On Computer Addiction

A is most probably a computer and internet addict. Her longest computer usage was for
a full 17 hours without interruption (save for toilet and getting up to eat). Even if she has exams
the next day, she will cram and sacrifice sleep just to be online. She never fails to find where the
strongest Wi-Fi signal is. She turns on the computer the moment she arrives home. Every day,
she spends a minimum of 3 hours on the computer, with little relevance to academic stuff. A has
stated that sometimes she feels a teeny weeny guilt when prioritizing the computer over her
studies. Aside from this, she also has relatively rapid worsening eyesight and has chronic
shoulder and neck pains due to unnatural posture). During her clans annual New Years Day
gathering held at their house, she prefers to chat online rather than chat with distant relatives.
Once, she felt so down when her computer was reformatted she couldnt eat even her favorite
food. She describes her computer and internet less world as Para akong naputulan ng kamay
o kung ano man. A has focus problems. At this very moment, she struggles to concentrate and
get her papers done, even when her deadlines are rapidly approaching.
According to the existing literature (which are not too many and more often than not nonempirical and personal experience, A is definitely not alone. Many people seem to be affected
by the condition they call Computer Addiction, which is definitely non-existent 60 years ago.
Before we proceed with the paper, I think it is proper for us to define first what the condition is all
about.
Definition of Computer Addiction
Computer addiction can be described as the excessive or compulsive use of
the computer which persists despite serious negative consequences for personal, social, or
occupational function (Pies, 2009). Although different from Internet Gaming Disorder and
Internet addiction (in a sense that one can be a computer addict without the Internet, e.g.,
playing Minesweeper for hours), it is the umbrella term for the said conditions. Having said this, I
shall call all the conditions here Computer Addiction.
Ever since the idea emerged that objects have the capacity to influence psychological
states, the idea that almost any subjectively rewarding activity (e.g., drug use, shopping,
working, running, gambling) can become the object of addiction has become increasingly
popular (Shaffer, 2002). In fact, Gambling Disorder is now in the DSM 5.

Much remains unknown about the overlap among various mental disorders with
excessive computer use. Even if new research satisfactorily demonstrates that the prevalence
of computer addiction is relatively stable and robust, epidemiologists also must establish that
this phenomenon represents a unique construct (Shaffer, 2002). Determining when computer
addiction (or gaming addiction) is for that matter is no easy feat. However, more importantly, we
must determine where the addiction is coming from. I believe that addiction, just like any
psychological disorder, is an amalgamation of factors namely genetic, cultural, individual
predispositions and neurobiological. I shall focus on the last one for this paper.
Neurobiology of Computer Addiction
The reward pathway, which includes limbic structures and neocortex are the brain parts
which are primarily involved in the experience of being addicted to computers and Internet. Let
us discuss the limbic structures first.
People with computer and/or internet addictions (hereon called CI addicts for
convenience) might have impaired orbitofrontal cortices. The orbitofrontal cortex is critical to
judgment, motivation and even mood. It is very important for conditioned emotional reactions.
For instance, A felt that she was happy when she used the internet, and by repeated association
her mind is now conditioned to use the computer.
This is in association with the reward pathway of the brain. This pathway is activated
when a person receives positive reinforcement for certain behaviors, which we can call a
reward. Evolution programmed the brain to reinforce pleasure-inducing behaviors which can aid
in survival.
The major structures of the reward pathway are the ventral tegmental area (VTA), the
nucleus accumbens, and the prefrontal cortex. The VTA is connected to both the nucleus
accumbens and the prefrontal cortex via this pathway and it sends information to these
structures via its neurons. The neurons of the VTA contain the neurotransmitter dopamine,
which is released in the nucleus accumbens and in the prefrontal cortex (point to each of these
structures). The nucleus accumbens is known for having a role in pleasure
Conversely, the neocortex is responsible for labeling emotions and subsequently
inhibiting or regulating emotional responses. From the term itself, neocortex, it is a relatively
new structure and this might have served well (based on evolutionary beliefs) in getting us here.

In addition, the somatosensory and motor cortices (as well as the basal ganglia and
other structures involved in movement) are also involved in the process for obvious reasons. As
the output mechanisms of the brain, they make the addiction happen repeatedly by accessing
things which can contribute to the addiction.
It would be useful to compare CI addiction to that of drug addiction. Drugs can stimulate
brain reward circuitry with a strength, time course and reliability that exceeds almost any natural
stimulus, powerfully consolidating responses to drug associated stimuli (Hyman & Malenka,
2001), thus making it very difficult to stop addiction.
Computer Addiction and the DSM 5
As of the moment, excessive behavioral patterns like Internet gaming are just described
in passing on the DSM 5, since there is insufficient peer-reviewed evidence to establish the
diagnostic criteria and course descriptions needed to identify these behaviors as mental
disorders (Koob & Simon, 2009). However, Internet Gaming Disorder is listed on the Emerging
Measures and Models (Section III Section of the DSM V, in particular under the Conditions for
Further Study. There is even a proposed symptom criteria for it. In addition, it should be noted
that it only applies to gamingand not even excessive social media use is covered (which
might even be related to other disorders e.g., histrionic personality disorder). I find the noninclusion of Social Media Disorder and even Computer Addiction really weird to be honest, and
although Internet Gaming is certainly noteworthy of further studies (conflated by worldwide
reports of death related to it), the zeitgeist of the Internet and social media cannot be denied.
In this highly connected world we live in right now, it is suffice to say that Internet and
Computer addiction might affect different cultures. However, those with access to computers
(thus highly industrialized nations like the US is more likely to have more computer addicts than
Ethiiopia), Asians and North Americans are also said to be more prone to this addiction,
although there is no empirical and conclusive bases for this.

On a More Personal Note

A was me. A is me. This is the very reason why I chose this spotlight on topic to work on.

Despite all the things Ive said I do not think that I am an Internet addict (or a social
media addict) just because I am addicted to it (like those in substance abuse). I use the Internet
to learn irrelevant non-academic stuff (otherwise important, such as my interests in literature
and history). Also, I am not too close with my extended family for a plethora of reasons.
Also, when does a thing become an addiction? Who defines it? Artists who spend hours
locked in their studio to finish their work are not viewed as addicts, with the most negative
association probably being eccentrics. Bookworms are not also traditionally viewed as addicts,
but this is not the case for Internet users who spend a lot of time being online because they are
reading ebooks, fanfictions and other forms of literature.
What I am trying to say here is that Internet addiction is a very complex phenomenon.
For instance, with regards to anti-social tendencies, Ive met people with the same interests as
me online (my interests arent exactly mainstream here in the Philippines) whom I like to
converse with more than my distant relatives. In connection to this, it is also useful to study
other possible confounding factors such as being an only child. Griffiths (2000) paper on the
existence of Internet and Computer studies had 3 only children out of 5 case studies.
Also, we should not limit Internet addiction to what it is. There might be underlying
societal factors such as capitalism and its spreading of internet games and social media as neoopium of the modern times.
On a parting note, we should probably stick to the golden mean. Let us do things in
moderation. There is probably a reason why that belief endured and is colored gold.

References
Griffiths , M. (2000). Does internet and computer "addiction" exist? Some case study evidence.

CyberPsychology and Behavior , 3, 211-218. Retrieved from

http://faculty.mwsu.edu/psychology/dave.carlston/Writing in Psychology/Internet/4/i12.pdf
Hyman, S., & Malenka, R. (2001). Addiction and the brain: The neurobiology of compulsion and
its persistence. Nature , 2, 695-703. Retrieved from
https://www.sacklerinstitute.org/cornell/summer_institute/archive/2005/papers/hyman200
1.pdf
Koob, G., & Simon, E. (2009). The neurobiology of addiction: Where we have been and
where we are going. J Drug Issues, 39(1), 115-132. Retrieved from
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2901107/
Pies, R. (2009). Should dsm-v designate internet addiction a mental
disorder?. Psychiatry, 6(2), 31-37. Retrieved from
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2719452/
Shaffer, H. (2002). Is computer addiction a unique psychiatric disorder?. Psychiatric Times.
Retrieved from http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/articles/computer-addiction-uniquepsychiatric-disorder. Accessed March 26, 2014.