Computer Addiction

Warning: mkdir() [function.mkdir]: Permission denied in /home/webs/affiliatelib2/CacheManager.php on line 12

Warning: mkdir() [function.mkdir]: No such file or directory in /home/webs/affiliatelib2/CacheManager.php on line 12

Warning: fopen(/home/templatecore2cache//*cluesnet.com/0a/0ab6d7eeab7ee4f001f181d918721031ad081f4e.tc2cache) [function.fopen]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /home/webs/affiliatelib2/CacheManager.php on line 130

Warning: fwrite(): supplied argument is not a valid stream resource in /home/webs/affiliatelib2/CacheManager.php on line 131

Warning: fclose(): supplied argument is not a valid stream resource in /home/webs/affiliatelib2/CacheManager.php on line 132

Computer addiction is an obsessive addiction to computer use sometimes known as Dependency. The term was used by M. Shotton in 1989 in her book Computer Addiction, although the concept was discussed years earlier with British E-Learning academic Nicholas Rushby. In his 1979 book, An Introduction to Educational Computing, Rushby suggested that people can be addicted to computers and suffer withdrawal symptoms. There are also examples of obsessive recreational users dating back to the first release of computer games, and many NetNews users were considered obsessive in the 1980s.

A variation of computer addiction is the proposed Internet addiction disorder, which suggests that people can not only be addicted to an object, such as a computer, but also an environment, i.e. the Internet.

As gaming in the form of PC games and game consoles from various companies like Nintendo and Sega caught on and spread through the end of the millennium, the use of Internet as an increasingly viable Mass media for communication also rose, and traditional offline activities such as politics and dating system began to take advantage of online capability. As a result, computer addiction became a more serious study, and a more vocal social concern.

With the almost-ubiquitous use of computers in the 21st century, it has become difficult to distinguish users who are merely highly engaged in their computer use from those who could be considered truly addicted. Criteria based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria for substance dependency has been used to distinguish mere extensive use of computers from compulsive over-use or addiction. However, the definition of "true computer addiction" is subject to debate.

In 2004 the Finnish Defence Forces revealed that they allow some conscription to postpone their military service for three years due to dependence on computer games and the Internet.{{cite web|url=http://www.hs.fi/english/article/WHO+study+shows+Finnish+teenage+boys+as+heavy+computer+users/1076153407318|title=WHO study shows Finnish teenage boys as heavy computer users|publisher=Helsingin Sanomat|accessdate=2007-07-17-->{{cite web|url=http://members.forbes.com/forbes/2005/0509/054.html|title=This Is Your Brain on Clicks|publisher=Forbes|author=Lea Goldman|date=2005-09-05|accessdate=2007-07-17-->

See also

Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Game addiction
Hyperreality
Shawn Woolley
Internet addiction disorder

References

Dawn Heron. "Time To Log Off: New Diagnostic Criteria For Problematic Internet Use", University of Florida, Gainesville, published in Current Psychology, April 2003 (Identifies incessant posting in chat rooms as a form of emotional disorder).
Orzack, Maressa H. Dr. (1998). "Computer Addiction: What Is It?" Psychiatric Times XV(8).
Shotton, MA (1989), Computer Addiction? A study of computer dependency. New York: Taylor & Francis.

Computer Addiction Services
Computer Addiction Services provides assessment, treatment and referrals for Internet Addiction, Computer Addiction, and other addictive disorders. ... McLean Hospital 115 Mill ...

Q&A with Dr. Orzack
Computer Addiction Services provides assessment, treatment and referrals for Internet Addiction, Computer Addiction, and other addictive disorders.

Computer addiction - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
An addicted teenager playing Runescape]. Computer addiction is an obsessive addiction to computer use sometimes known as Dependency. The term was used by M.

Internet addiction disorder - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
According to Maressa Orzack, director of the Computer Addiction Study Center at Harvard University 's McLean Hospital, between five and ten percent of Web surfers suffer some form ...

IRISS '98: Does Internet and Computer 'Addiction' Exist? : Some Case ...
Title: Does Internet and Computer 'Addiction' Exist? : Some Case Study Evidence Author: Mark Griffiths Abstract. It has been alleged that social pathologies are beginning ...

Computer kids swamp games addiction clinic - Times Online
A DUTCH clinic that has begun offering the world’s first treatment for computer game addicts has been overwhelmed with pleas for help from parents and children all over the world ...

Daniel Craig reveals addiction to computer games | Showbiz Spy
British actor Daniel Craig -- who recently signed a $60 million deal with MGM to play 007 hero James Bond at least 3-more-times -- has revealed that he is addicted to computer ...

Internet/Computer Addiction Services
We can help you with your computer dependency and addictions to the Internet. As early as 1994, Hilarie Cash and Jay Parker began to see and hear about people whose lives were in ...

Clicking Addict Computer Addiction
An increasing number of people of all ages spend countless hours glued to their computer and usually online at the expense of their relationships and health.

UK teen to fight cyber addiction :: Contractor UK
Members: Subscribe to our news letter service to keep current with the latest news and information. Click here to join.