Chapter 5 Seeking Therapy Online Online Communication

In this chapter, you will learn: A definition for & the symptoms of Internet Addiction Disorder; A model that explains the disorder; Critiques of the disorder; The qualities of online therapy that attract people to it; and What virtual support groups can and cannot do for their participants. Online Communication

Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD): a psychological condition associated with Internet use that leads to adverse effects with one’s psychological, physical, or social well-being

Some Symptoms of IAD 1. Increasing tolerance for Internet usage 2. Withdrawal symptoms when not using it 3. Using it with greater frequency or duration 4. Cannot seem to reduce amount of use 5. Invest time in Internet-related activities 6. Neglect other social or occupational activities Online Communication

The ACE Model Accessibility Control Excitement Online Communication Young, K.S. (1998). Caught in the net: How to recognize the signs of Internet addiction and a winning strategy for recovery. New York: Wiley.

How Important Is Privacy? Online Communication Witmer, D. F. (1997, March). Risky business: Why people feel safe in sexually explicit on-line communication. Journal of Computer- Mediated Communication, 2 (4).

third-person effect hypothesis: people see media messages as having a greater impact on others than on themselves Online Communication

Critiques of IAD There is a presumption that off-line interaction is preferable to that online Increased usage could be attributed to a phase of “obsessive enchantment” “Addiction” may be too strong a term People avoiding their obligations are not necessarily addicts IAD could be the creation of pundits seeking fame and fortune Online Communication

therapy: traditionally, a series of contacts between a trained professional and a client seeking emotional well-being; also broadly taken to include similar interactions with a group of people

Attractive Qualities of Online Therapy Anonymity Ability to transcend distance Opportunity to find others with similar disorders Online Communication

Online Therapy Virtual support groups can offer their participants statements of empathy and the opportunity to self-disclose... but they have short falls. Critics argue that they rarely promote transformation and have the potential to make some conditions worse. Online Communication

Being Critical Consumers of Online Advice Guard your privacy Watch for commercial influences Exercise caution Online Communication American Psychological Association. (2000). Dotcomsense: Common sense ways to protect your privacy and assess online mental health information.

A Brief Review 1. What is IAD and its symptoms? 2. How does the ACE model explain IAD? 3. What critiques about IAD have been expressed? 4. What three qualities motivate people to seek therapy online? 5. What can virtual support groups do? What can they not do? Online Communication