CRIMINOLOGY

CYBER CRIMINOLOGY & CYBER FORENSICS

Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD)

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 MODULE 21 : INTERNET ADDICTION DISORDER (IAD)

Component - I - Personal Details

Role Name Affiliation

Principal Investigator
Paper Coordinator
Content Writer/Author
Content Reviewer
Prof(Dr) G S Bajpai
Prof(Dr) K. Jaishankar
Anshul Shah
Prof(Dr) K. Jaishankar
Registrar
National Law University
Delhi
Professor and Head,
Department of Criminology,
Raksha Shakti University,
Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Trained Criminologist,
Department of Criminology,
Raksha Shakti University,
Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Professor and Head,
Department of Criminology,
Raksha Shakti University,
Ahmedabad, Gujarat

Component - I (B) Description of Module

Description of Module
Subject Name Criminology
Paper Name Cyber Criminology and Cyber Forensics
Module No. 21
Module Name/Title Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD)
Pre-requisites Internet, Addiction, Voxel Based Morphometry.
Objectives  To understand the definition of Internet
Addiction disorder.
 To understand why is Important to study IAD
along with the symptoms and types of Addiction
involved.
 To understand push and pull factors which
determine the over use of Internet and control
strategies which can curb the disorder.
Keywords Internet, Internet Addiction disorder, Push and Pull
model.

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Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Defining Internet Addiction disorder
3. Why it is important to study IAD?
4. Problems of IAD
5. Proposed Push and Pull model
6. Conclusion

Learning Outcomes
After reading the module, you will be able to understand
 The Internet Addiction and some symptoms related to it
 Definition of Internet Addiction
 The Importance to look at Internet addiction
 The Problems and Symptoms associated with IA and Likelihood of age group
affected by it.
 The Proposed Push and Pull model to understand the behavior of Internet addiction.

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 Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD)

1. Introduction
Excessive use of Computer/Internet is the present social issue which is debated across
the world. It is believed that Internet addiction disorder (IAD) is causing social problems
related to socialization, psychological disturbances due to content which is often displayed in
the social media sites as well as neurological problems. Research has pointed out that, the
excessive use of Internet meets the criteria to be an addiction in the same way as others are
addicted to drugs and alcohol which might cause impairments on each level be it Social,
psychological or occupational and its inclusion in the DSM IV was called for and first
proposed by Kimberly Young in her 1996 paper. Research done by Cao et al (2007)
demonstrates that the Chinese adolescents who have IAD are more likely to exhibit more
impulsivity than controls.
Countries like China and South Korea actively support education, research and
treatment of these disorders and consider IAD as a significant public health issue. However,
countries like USA and India are fairly doing nothing to curb the disorder despite of growing
body of research regarding growing numbers of Internet addicts. IAD can be characterized by
spending much of the time in using internet activities without any meaningful work purpose
and often is accompanied by change in mood patterns. Some researchers take the disorder as a
manifestation of another disorder like anxiety and depression rather than differentiating it as
another mental disorder.
According to “The American society of Addiction Medicine” (ASAM), new
definition of addiction includes "addiction as a Chronic brain disorder characterized by loss of
Control, change in mood patterns and disruptive behavior patterns on withdrawal with
increase in stress and want to continue even after knowing the negative consequences of it."
Similarly Internet addiction has both psycho-physiological effects on the body including
change in thought pattern, emotional disturbances and behavioral changes as well as
physiological changes in situations of withdrawal. Internet addiction can be described as
condition where one is unable to control their internet use which could lead to disruption in
daily routine and increase in stress levels. It is not only problematic for college students, but
also with individuals holding professional positions.

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Source: https://image.slidesharecdn.com/internetaddictionpresentation-final-100107113121-phpapp02/95/internet-
addiction-2-728.jpg?cb=1262863921

2. Defining Internet Addiction Disorder

Mitchell (2000) defined Internet Addiction disorder as, “The compulsive overuse of
the Internet and the irritable or moody behavior when deprived of it”. Due to limited
comprehensible basic terminologies of Internet addiction, researchers are finding it very
difficult to come to the common definition of Internet addiction disorder. There are six
different terms, defined by Widyanto and Griffiths (2006) which are associated with the
concept of Internet addiction which are-Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD), Pathological
Internet Use, Problematic Internet Use, Excessive Internet Use and Compulsive Internet Use.
Rice (2005) has described the Internet addiction disorder as over use of Internet even when it
interferes with daily routine of normal life. Scholars conceptualize IAD as an impulse control
disorder but common analysis of the disorder makes it a form of behavioral addiction. Normal
everyday life functionality is hampered which affects family life and work relationships and
other social interactions. Important question raised by the researchers ask about whether
Internet can be treated as a medium or should be considered as Causal factor?

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3. Why Internet Addiction is important to study?
With increase of networking system in cyber space i.e., Computers, there is an
emergence of online interactions which has given a platform for people with common interest
to talk, discuss and socialize, even though they are geographically isolated. This socializing
factor is one of the most important reasons for addiction of Internet. Mostly individuals
socialize online to exchange information, provide emotional and psychological support or just
to converse with people of similar interest. Increasing criticism of the Internet points out at
the socially isolating factors in the real world and real time situations as negative features of
networking on Internet. Studies suggest that IAD is also associated with structural
abnormalities of gray matter in brain. Gray matter density is measured by technique called
Voxel based morphometry (VBM) on high-resolution T1-weighted Structural MRI.
Relatively less developed cognitive control among adolescents put them in High risk category
for IAD. It is important to have an idea about the mechanisms which are underlying factors in
the disease. Online chat rooms are used as spaces to rehearse the social behavior and
communication which are generally felt as fearful by people who are introvert in nature or are
socially fearful. These chat rooms are perceived as low social risk windows considered good
to approach someone socially.
Ridings and Geffen (2004) described that the information seeking is the foremost
reason for forming/participation in social communities, another factor was to form social
groups and have a better self-image. Many social psychology literature points towards
correlation between participating in communities and positive self-image and as it is
relatively easy to be a part of online community with people of similar interest, makes
participating in online communities as more viable option to enhance self-image. Two
measures such as Young’s Diagnostic Questionnaire and the Compulsive Internet Use Scale
which uses Group discussion to identify internet over use among individuals is used for
Qualitatively identifying those who are affected by situational and interpersonal triggers of
intensive internet use.

4. Problems of Internet addiction

4.1. Types of Internet addiction

1. Excessive use of Web, surfing websites for prolonged period of time decreases work
productivity and less association with family.

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 2. Using internet for visiting shopping websites frequently, exchange of stocks,
gambling spending increases over spending and money related issues.
3. Surfing porn websites frequently and engaging in cybersex activities along with using
technology to maintain long distance cyber relationships can frequently ruin genuine
relationship and family relations.

4.2. Symptoms of Internet Addiction Young (1996) described the negative

repercussions of the Disorder in five categories which are social, financial, occupational,
academic and physical in nature.

5. Who is more likely to be affected by Internet Addiction?

Mafé and Blas (2006) categorically divided people into Ritualist and Instrumentalist
on the basis of their motivation and objective use of Internet. Ritualist being those people who
use internet just as an entertainment medium and are often glued to websites which have high
sound and animation inputs whereas Instrumentalist are often people who browse websites in
order to gain some knowledge out of it. Thus, ritualist people are more prone to Internet
addiction because they often use internet when feeling low and sometimes to escape the
reality of everyday situations. Some studies also reveal that Attention deficit/Hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common psychiatric disorders in adolescents with
Internet addiction (Bozkurt, Coskun, Ayaydin, Adak, & Zoroglu, 2013). Many studies (Soule
et al. 2003; Thatcher & Goolam, 2005) show that there is no correlation between gender of
the user and time spent on Internet and on another hand, young individuals who are in age
group of 18-24 are more likely in the risk area of suffering with Internet addiction. Morahan-
Martin (2005) argues Internet addicts could be someone with issues of Depression, bipolar

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disorders, loneliness and Sexual compulsion and they often surf to modulate and change their
present negative environment and the causality of the IAD is difficult to point out and can
also be Symptomatic to disorders like Professional gambling.

Source: http://byuiscroll.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2015/03/internet-adict-01WEB.jpg

6. Proposed Model of Push and Pull factors

Alecia C. Douglas et al. (2008) proposed a push and pull model and identified following
constructs in there meta-analysis of 10 articles on Internet addiction within the span of 10
years.

6.1. Antecedents and Addict profile of Internet users

The themes under these construct focused on time spent by the subject on Internet or
online and results shows that the addicts normally surf eight hours more than a normal non
addict. Griffith (1998) observed that the new users who are likely using the internet for the
first time spend more time online than the experienced internet user and new users are more
likely to be in high risk group for Internet addiction disorder. The pre-existing social state of
the individual also defines the usage of the Internet user. The feeling of boredom, depression
and loneliness can escalate the internet use and someone who feels that they are often
misunderstood by others have tendency to browse internet to seek connections and

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relationships in cyber world which is often less fearful than real world interactions. The
addicts is mostly someone with low self-confidence, considers himself as less attractive or
over-weight and often prefer networking and connecting on cyber space which is less
threatening than face to face interaction.

6.2. Pull factors

Pull factors include those themes in the construct which gives us the idea of what
factors are responsible which compels the users to makes intensive use of internet. According
to the survey, most people use it to expand business contacts and informal relationships as it
is a great source to meet people with similar interest and further helps in exchange of ideas
from peers. Some are using internet for communicating to far distant friends and are replacing
norms to use traditional forms of communication like phone, fax, and post etc. Nowadays
with increase in applications and other interfaces, which are paving the way for better
communication, paying bills and other entertainment sources is making situation of Internet
addiction more severe. With decrease in cost cutting prices to avail internet has made internet
easier to access and cost efficient. With more anonymity to user and chance to escape from
depression, isolation and social anxiety are few of the pull factors which increases internet
addiction.

6.3. Deviant Behavior

These themes include deviant behaviors like downloading illicit files related to child
pornography, buying dubious stocks or involved in spurious online gambling or shopping
sprees and molestation of teen girls. Many of the times, manipulative behaviors are exhibited
to hide the cost incurred in using internet extensively. Cyber affairs which are formed online
can disrupt familial and marriage stability. Internet as a medium equips people who are shy
and self-conscious with ample opportunities to interact virtually and someone who wants to
escape personal hardship (Quayle & Taylor, 2003; Young et al., 1999).

6.4. Push factor

Being online or using internet provides the individuals with anonymity and discreet
identity which either compensates something which the individual is lacking or something
which he wants to achieve. These identity is used by someone with a negative self-image who
feels that they are less attractive and more over weight than others or because of any
disability. Overall internet provides an entertaining medium to escape reality of life and away
from disturbing emotions like isolation, boredom, loneliness, stress etc. and sometimes to

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establish connections and level of accomplishment and recognition. Griffiths (1998) describes
that Individual might feel that he has no other social life other than on internet and never
attempts to meet people in real life situations.

6.5. Negative effects

Griffiths (1998) observed that excessive use of Internet can cause adverse physical
damages like change in sleep patterns, eyesight deterioration, seizures due excessive exposure
to video games. Internet addicts often neglects everything important in there day to day daily
routine and satisfy their need to be online, confrontational talks with family or friends are
avoided along with it, change in mood pattern and low feeling while they are not logged in or
are unable to connect to internet services, also make them irritable when someone enquires
about the time spent on the internet. Often overspending bills are kept at safe places to avoid
any confrontation, plus now even the internet service providers are providing internet on very
reasonable and affordable rates which can further aggravate the problem in near future.

6.6. Control strategies

This construct helps in developing strategies to control the excessive use of Internet
and those behaviors which are exhibited on withdrawal from the internet. Most difficult is to
control the amount of time which we spend on internet to curb the addiction. Real time
interactions, going out with family, reading books and involvement in creative activities are
few of the ways which can help in differentiating our time instead of spending it online. Many
of the people still do not consider it as a form of addiction or disorder and often avoid it as
something very minor or normal. First more awareness and educational workshops should be
initiated among the individuals who are exhibiting the symptoms or are in High risk group.
Productive use of medium should be propagated among the students and protocols to address
increasing cases of Internet addiction should be put forward.

7. Proposed push and Pull model

The model proposed by Douglas et al (2008) suggests that internet overuse is
basically due to the profile of the addict as well as depends on Inner motivation and needs of
the individuals and varies from person to person. Combining these factors makes up the push
factors which decide the internet use of the individual. Another aspect of the model describes
that the pull factors strikes the balance between Push factors and severe negative effects of
the Internet. Negative effects of IAD can lead to many deviant behaviors like online gambling
and can be physical, psychological and social as well as occupational. Awareness about the

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negative effects of the IAD and at least considering it as a severe disorder can help in
strategizing the control behaviors which can help in reducing its effects. The deviant
behaviors are profile specific as well when certain individuals will adapt to some deviant
behaviors but do not engage in another type of deviant behaviors which makes it person
specific.

Push and Pull model Proposed by Douglas et al. (2008)

8. Summary and Conclusion

Internet addiction disorder which is often described as excessive use of Internet to
browse websites which is unproductive, involvement in cybersex relationship which is often
geographically distant, being a part of social community which are intellectually stimulation
or share common interest. Use of Internet in order to collect information and gain knowledge
is a positive aspect of Internet usage. When Internet is overused which results in
disintegration of familial ties and genuine relationships along with degrading academic merit
severely affect psychological and neurological condition of the individual. In recent times,
cases with severe symptoms of IAD are evidently available but due to lack of educational
material in order to identify the symptoms or operational definition of IAD and lack of
awareness among the common people and considering it as a form of minor issue have made
the situation worse. The push and pull model describes all the factors which interplays the
role in advancing the disorder. The control strategies are to be defined in order to curb the
disorder.

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References
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