- THE INTERNET The internet is an integral part of modern life and for the vast majority of internet users its benefits far outweigh the adverse consequences secondary to excessive use. ‘Internet addiction’ is not yet a recognised category, and considerable ambiguity surrounds the phenomenon, which has been variously conceptualised as an addiction and an impulse-control disorder . 

 Young (1998) was first to describe excessive and problematic internet use as an addictive disorder and she is credited with coining the term ‘ internet addiction disorder’ . 

 An earlier study, by Shotton (1991), noted that addicted computer users were mainly male, highly educated and introverted. 

However, subsequent studies reported contrasting findings: dependent internet users were mostly middle-aged women on home computers. 

The ambiguity and lack of conceptual clarity and specificity surrounding the concept of internet addiction have led many researchers to question its validity. Critics highlight the lack of empirical research, proposing that ‘internet addiction’ be replaced by terms such as excessive, maladaptive 

or problematic internet use .

 Aetiology (the cause or set of causes of a disease or condition) Aetiological models Learning theory emphasises the positive reinforcing effects of internet use, which can induce feelings of well-being and euphoria in the user. Internet use by a shy or anxious individual to avoid anxiety-provoking situations such as face- to-face interaction tends to reinforce use by avoidance conditioning. 

 The reward circuit in the brain is normally activated by ‘natural’ positive reinforcers such as food, water and sex, which are all vital to survival. 

However, ‘unnatural’ reinforcers such as drugs, alcohol, gambling and the internet can prove more powerful, causing people to neglect sex, grooming, work, even food and health.

 The reward-deficiency hypothesis suggests that those who achieve less satisfaction from natural rewards turn to substances to seek an enhanced stimulation of reward pathways.

 Internet use provides immediate reward with minimal delay, mimicking the stimulation provided by alcohol or drugs. 

Impulsivity is seen as a risk factor for the development of addiction. Individuals who are impulsive tend to use the internet as a sensation-seeking tool and may become addicted to it.

 Self-esteem in childhood is crucial to the development of a mature personality in adulthood. Low self- esteem may result from the absence of strong parental or peer support, which can culminate in feelings of inadequacy and worthlessness . 

This might lead individuals to turn to the internet as a way of escaping reality and finding a safe world in which they are not threatened or challenged.

 According to Shotton (1991), introverted, educated, technologically sophisticated males are more prone to develop pathological internet use.

 Individuals who have low self-esteem have a greater propensity to internet addiction. Shy ​ individuals use the internet to overcome their deficiencies in social skills, communication and social relationships. 

What are the addicts addicted to? Despite these aetiological models, it is still not clear to what precisely internet addicts become addicted. Among the possibilities suggested are: the process of typing, the role of internet as a medium for communication, the information gained, particular applications (e.g., email, gambling, video games, pornography and multi-user domains) and the anonymity afforded by the internet. 

Young (1998) showed that internet users become addicted to specific applications. Individuals who fear real face-to-face interaction may choose to engage in internet relay chat and multi-user domains. The recent development of three-dimensional graphics in games enables the user to interact with others in virtual worlds. 

The extreme addictive potential of these ‘massive multiplayer online role-playing games’ has led some users to describe them as heroinware. ( heroinware : video games, slang. An addictive computer game, especially one played to the extent it interferes with the everyday life of the player. Subtypes of addiction Researchers have attempted to identify subtypes or sub-categories of internet addiction. 

Young (1999) categorised internet addiction into five types: cybersexual addiction; cyberrelationship addiction; net compulsion (e.g., gambling or shopping on the internet); information overload (e.g., compulsive database searching); and computer addiction (excessive game-playing). 

Consequences of internet use The internet is a vast repository of knowledge and information, and it enables almost instantaneous transfer of information. 

Positive consequences of internet use may be many: enhanced self-confidence, increased frequency of communication with family and friends, feelings of empowerment, the possibility of establishing relationships and making friends through game-playing. Internet use to the point of addiction, however, can have wide-ranging adverse consequences that affect many domains of the individual's life: interpersonal, social, occupational, psychological and physical.

 Perhaps the greatest negative impact tends to be on family and social life, as excessive time spent online often results in neglect of family, social activities and interests. The term ‘ cyberwidow ’ has been used to refer to the neglected partners of internet addicts.

 Internet addiction can lead to poor academic performance in school and college and impaired functioning at work. 

Employers have found that employees with access to the internet at their desks spend a considerable amount of their working day engaged in non- work-related internet use. Psychosocial consequences of note include loneliness, frustration and depression. 

Although not very common, some addicts who spend very long hours on the internet also experience physical problems such as fatigue related to sleep deprivation, backache, and carpal and radial tunnel syndromes.​