Internet Addiction Presented by Jessica Leggett

What is Internet Addiction? Internet Addiction is an impulsive-control problem and five subtypes have been defined: Internet Addiction is an impulsive-control problem and five subtypes have been defined:

Cybersexual Addiction Cybersexual Addiction Individuals who suffer from Cybersex/Internet pornography addiction are typically engaged in viewing, downloading, and trading online pornography or involved in adult fantasy role- play chat rooms. Individuals who suffer from Cybersex/Internet pornography addiction are typically engaged in viewing, downloading, and trading online pornography or involved in adult fantasy role- play chat rooms.

Cyber-Relational Addiction Cyber-Relational Addiction Individuals who suffer from an addiction to chat rooms, IM, or social networking sites become over-involved in online relationships or may engage in virtual adultery. Online friends quickly become more important to the individual often at the expense of real life relationships with family and friends. In many instances, this will lead to marital discord and family instability. Individuals who suffer from an addiction to chat rooms, IM, or social networking sites become over-involved in online relationships or may engage in virtual adultery. Online friends quickly become more important to the individual often at the expense of real life relationships with family and friends. In many instances, this will lead to marital discord and family instability.

Net Compulsions Net Compulsions Addictions to online gaming, online gambling, and eBay are fast becoming new mental problems in the post-Internet Era. With the instant access to virtual casinos, interactive games, and eBay, addicts loose excessive amounts of money and even disrupt other job- related duties or significant relationships. Addictions to online gaming, online gambling, and eBay are fast becoming new mental problems in the post-Internet Era. With the instant access to virtual casinos, interactive games, and eBay, addicts loose excessive amounts of money and even disrupt other job- related duties or significant relationships.

Information Overload Information Overload The wealth of data available on the World Wide Web has created a new type of compulsive behavior regarding excessive web surfing and database searches. Individuals will spend greater amounts of time searching and collecting data from the web and organizing information. Obsessive compulsive tendencies and reduced work productivity are typically associated with this behavior. The wealth of data available on the World Wide Web has created a new type of compulsive behavior regarding excessive web surfing and database searches. Individuals will spend greater amounts of time searching and collecting data from the web and organizing information. Obsessive compulsive tendencies and reduced work productivity are typically associated with this behavior.

Computer Addiction Computer Addiction In the 80s, computer games such as Solitaire and Minesweeper were programmed into computers and researchers found that obsessive computer game playing became problematic in organizational settings as employees spent most days playing rather than working. These games are not interactive nor played online. In the 80s, computer games such as Solitaire and Minesweeper were programmed into computers and researchers found that obsessive computer game playing became problematic in organizational settings as employees spent most days playing rather than working. These games are not interactive nor played online.

How’s it treating you? Do you feel that you may be addicted? Here’s some questions for you!

1. How often do you find that you stay on-line longer than you intended? 1. How often do you find that you stay on-line longer than you intended? 1 = Rarely 2 = Occasionally 3 = Frequently 4 = Often 5 = Always Does Not Apply 1 = Rarely 2 = Occasionally 3 = Frequently 4 = Often 5 = Always Does Not Apply

2. How often do you neglect household chores to spend more time on-line? 2. How often do you neglect household chores to spend more time on-line? 1 = Rarely 2 = Occasionally 3 = Frequently 4 = Often 5 = Always Does Not Apply 1 = Rarely 2 = Occasionally 3 = Frequently 4 = Often 5 = Always Does Not Apply

3. How often do you prefer the excitement of the Internet to intimacy with your partner? 3. How often do you prefer the excitement of the Internet to intimacy with your partner? 1 = Rarely 2 = Occasionally 3 = Frequently 4 = Often 5 = Always Does Not Apply 1 = Rarely 2 = Occasionally 3 = Frequently 4 = Often 5 = Always Does Not Apply

4. How often do you form new relationships with fellow on-line users? 4. How often do you form new relationships with fellow on-line users? 1 = Rarely 2 = Occasionally 3 = Frequently 4 = Often 5 = Always Does Not Apply 1 = Rarely 2 = Occasionally 3 = Frequently 4 = Often 5 = Always Does Not Apply

5. How often do others in your life complain to you about the amount of time you spend on- line? 5. How often do others in your life complain to you about the amount of time you spend on- line? 1 = Rarely 2 = Occasionally 3 = Frequently 4 = Often 5 = Always Does Not Apply 1 = Rarely 2 = Occasionally 3 = Frequently 4 = Often 5 = Always Does Not Apply

6. How often do your grades or school work suffer because of the amount of time you spend on-line? 6. How often do your grades or school work suffer because of the amount of time you spend on-line? 1 = Rarely 2 = Occasionally 3 = Frequently 4 = Often 5 = Always Does Not Apply 1 = Rarely 2 = Occasionally 3 = Frequently 4 = Often 5 = Always Does Not Apply

7. How often do you check your before something else that you need to do? 7. How often do you check your before something else that you need to do? 1 = Rarely 2 = Occasionally 3 =Frequently 4 = Often 5 = Always Does Not Apply 1 = Rarely 2 = Occasionally 3 =Frequently 4 = Often 5 = Always Does Not Apply

8. How often does your job performance or productivity suffer because of the Internet? 8. How often does your job performance or productivity suffer because of the Internet? 1 = Rarely 2 = Occasionally 3 = Frequently 4 = Often 5 = Always Does Not Apply 1 = Rarely 2 = Occasionally 3 = Frequently 4 = Often 5 = Always Does Not Apply

9. How often do you become defensive or secretive when anyone asks you what you do on- line? 9. How often do you become defensive or secretive when anyone asks you what you do on- line? 1 = Rarely 2 = Occasionally 3 = Frequently 4 = Often 5 = Always Does Not Apply 1 = Rarely 2 = Occasionally 3 = Frequently 4 = Often 5 = Always Does Not Apply

10. How often do you block out disturbing thoughts about your life with soothing thoughts of the Internet? 10. How often do you block out disturbing thoughts about your life with soothing thoughts of the Internet? 1 = Rarely 2 = Occasionally 3 = Frequently 4 = Often 5 = Always Does Not Apply 1 = Rarely 2 = Occasionally 3 = Frequently 4 = Often 5 = Always Does Not Apply

11. How often do you find yourself anticipating when you will go on-line again? 11. How often do you find yourself anticipating when you will go on-line again? 1 = Rarely 2 = Occasionally 3 = Frequently 4 = Often 5 = Always Does Not Apply 1 = Rarely 2 = Occasionally 3 = Frequently 4 = Often 5 = Always Does Not Apply

12. How often do you fear that life without the Internet would be boring, empty, and joyless? 12. How often do you fear that life without the Internet would be boring, empty, and joyless? 1 = Rarely 2 = Occasionally 3 = Frequently 4 = Often 5 = Always Does Not Apply 1 = Rarely 2 = Occasionally 3 = Frequently 4 = Often 5 = Always Does Not Apply

13. How often do you snap, yell, or act annoyed if someone bothers you while you are on-line? 13. How often do you snap, yell, or act annoyed if someone bothers you while you are on-line? 1 = Rarely 2 = Occasionally 3 = Frequently 4 = Often 5 = Always Does Not Apply 1 = Rarely 2 = Occasionally 3 = Frequently 4 = Often 5 = Always Does Not Apply

14. How often do you lose sleep due to late-night log-ins? 1 = Rarely 2 = Occasionally 3 = Frequently 4 = Often 5 = Always Does Not Apply 1 = Rarely 2 = Occasionally 3 = Frequently 4 = Often 5 = Always Does Not Apply

15. How often do you feel preoccupied with the Internet when off-line, or fantasize about being on-line? 15. How often do you feel preoccupied with the Internet when off-line, or fantasize about being on-line? 1 = Rarely 2 = Occasionally 3 = Frequently 4 = Often 5 = Always Does Not Apply 1 = Rarely 2 = Occasionally 3 = Frequently 4 = Often 5 = Always Does Not Apply

16. How often do you find yourself saying "just a few more minutes" when on-line? 16. How often do you find yourself saying "just a few more minutes" when on-line? 1 = Rarely 2 = Occasionally 3 = Frequently 4 = Often 5 = Always Does Not Apply 1 = Rarely 2 = Occasionally 3 = Frequently 4 = Often 5 = Always Does Not Apply

17. How often do you try to cut down the amount of time you spend on-line and fail? 17. How often do you try to cut down the amount of time you spend on-line and fail? 1 = Rarely 2 = Occasionally 3 = Frequently 4 = Often 5 = Always Does Not Apply 1 = Rarely 2 = Occasionally 3 = Frequently 4 = Often 5 = Always Does Not Apply

18. How often do you try to hide how long you've been on-line? 18. How often do you try to hide how long you've been on-line? 1 = Rarely 2 = Occasionally 3 = Frequently 4 = Often 5 = Always Does Not Apply 1 = Rarely 2 = Occasionally 3 = Frequently 4 = Often 5 = Always Does Not Apply

19. How often do you choose to spend more time on-line over going out with others? 19. How often do you choose to spend more time on-line over going out with others? 1 = Rarely 2 = Occasionally 3 = Frequently 4 = Often 5 = Always Does Not Apply 1 = Rarely 2 = Occasionally 3 = Frequently 4 = Often 5 = Always Does Not Apply

20. How often do you feel depressed, moody, or nervous when you are off-line, which goes away once you are back on-line? 20. How often do you feel depressed, moody, or nervous when you are off-line, which goes away once you are back on-line? 1 = Rarely 2 = Occasionally 3 = Frequently 4 = Often 5 = Always Does Not Apply 1 = Rarely 2 = Occasionally 3 = Frequently 4 = Often 5 = Always Does Not Apply

After you've answered all the questions, add the numbers you selected for each response to obtain a final score. The higher your score, the greater your level of addiction and the problems your Internet usage causes. Here's a general scale to help measure your score: After you've answered all the questions, add the numbers you selected for each response to obtain a final score. The higher your score, the greater your level of addiction and the problems your Internet usage causes. Here's a general scale to help measure your score: points: You are an average on-line user. You may surf the Web a bit too long at times, but you have control over your usage points: You are an average on-line user. You may surf the Web a bit too long at times, but you have control over your usage points: You are experiencing occasional or frequent problems because of the Internet. You should consider their full impact on your life points: You are experiencing occasional or frequent problems because of the Internet. You should consider their full impact on your life points: Your Internet usage is causing significant problems in your life. You should evaluate the impact of the Internet on your life and address the problems directly caused by your Internet usage points: Your Internet usage is causing significant problems in your life. You should evaluate the impact of the Internet on your life and address the problems directly caused by your Internet usage.

Sooooo…. Were you surprised? Were you surprised? Well, here’s some statistics! Well, here’s some statistics! 71% of office workers abuse the Internet during work hours visiting social networking sites, shopping online, reading personal , or visiting pornography, gaming, or gambling sites. 71% of office workers abuse the Internet during work hours visiting social networking sites, shopping online, reading personal , or visiting pornography, gaming, or gambling sites. Individuals who suffer from depression, anxiety- disorders, social phobia, and other compulsive disorders are more likely to develop Internet addiction. Individuals who suffer from depression, anxiety- disorders, social phobia, and other compulsive disorders are more likely to develop Internet addiction.

Children who suffer from Internet addiction are more likely to suffer from depression, experience academic and social problems at school, and are at greater risk to develop physical illnesses, obesity, and carpel tunnel syndrome. Children who suffer from Internet addiction are more likely to suffer from depression, experience academic and social problems at school, and are at greater risk to develop physical illnesses, obesity, and carpel tunnel syndrome. According to the Stanford University School of Medicine Study, 1 out of 8 Americans suffer from Internet Addiction, 14% of respondents found it hard to abstain from Internet use for several days; 5.9% said excessive Internet use affected their relationships; 8.2% said the Internet was a means of escape from the real world. According to the Stanford University School of Medicine Study, 1 out of 8 Americans suffer from Internet Addiction, 14% of respondents found it hard to abstain from Internet use for several days; 5.9% said excessive Internet use affected their relationships; 8.2% said the Internet was a means of escape from the real world.

Site I used for Statistics