Why don’t people put down their cell phones? internet addiction

For two decades, psychology researchers have been studying the causes and forms of treatment for the so-called internet addiction or addiction. Some studies point out that most people would rather do anything – even get shocked – than do nothing. In this text, I will comment on these studies.

internet addiction

Just like addiction to a drug like alcohol, internet addiction has characteristics such as lack of control in use, abstinence, fissure. Currently, this type of addiction is not considered a disorder by the DSM-5. However, the essential factor in all disorders in this Diagnostic Manual of Disorders is clinically significant distress, to self and/or to others.

In itself, the Internet is neutral, it is like any means of communication. Therefore, it is not that the internet is evil in itself, but damage can result from the use and abuse of the tool.

Initially, studies and treatments were related to accessing specific sites such as adult sites and gambling and betting sites. More recently, with the emergence of app stores and social networks, the problem has taken on another dimension.

We know that social media applications are intensely developed to generate more and more engagement, that is, so that the user (a term curiously used in drug addiction) spends more and more time using the App.

Doing something is better than doing nothing or reflecting

Timothy Wilson of the University of Virginia has conducted several studies showing that most people would rather do anything—even get shocked—than do nothing, let their minds wander, or reflect and think.

The studies, which were done on people between the ages of 18 and 77, show that this trend is not a matter of one specific generation. This “doing nothing”, this time for introspection, would not be desired by the majority, which could explain why people do not put down their cell phones even for a five-minute break. If they let go, they turn on the TV or music, which ends up being similar, in terms of Wilson’s study objectives.

In the laboratory, Wilson asked the research volunteers to stay from 6 to 15 minutes in an undecorated room, without cell phones, TV or magazines. Participants were to simply stay there, entertaining themselves with their thoughts, daydreaming, or doing nothing. Another research called for the same, changing the research environment from the laboratory to the home.

The results showed that most participants did not like the experience and would prefer to do other activities. At home, several of them confessed that they did not stay for the requested time and actually ended up leaving the experiment and turning on the TV, playing music or picking up their cell phones.

Perhaps the most curious data is that of Wilson’s study in which, in the laboratory, all participants received a shock at the beginning of the study, uncomfortable enough for them to say that they would pay to not receive a second shock. However, later alone in the empty room with nothing to do, 67 percent of the men and 25 percent of the women shocked themselves simply to do something there.

“What is striking is that simply being alone with their own thoughts for 15 minutes was apparently so aversive that it prompted many participants to self-administer an electric shock that they had previously said they would pay to avoid.”

Wilson concludes: “The mind is designed to engage with the world. Even when we are alone, our focus is often on the outside world. And without training in meditation or thought control techniques, which are still difficult, most people prefer to engage in outside activities.”

Studies such as Wilson’s bring evidence that excessive use of cell phones or the internet fits with this tendency to want to engage with something. Before people watched more TV, today they stay on their cell phones.

Problematic internet and cell phone use

Although we can consider this general trend of wanting to engage with the world, socialize, see, listen to content, we find patients who seek help to deal with the problematic use they make of these devices, to the point of jeopardizing their academic, professional and social life. .

For these cases, psychology has developed forms of treatment that have been shown to be effective in changing behavior. Treatments can be done individually and/or in groups.

Conclusion

Paying attention to the use we make of these devices such as cell phones, tablets and computers is a first step towards understanding whether their use has become a problem in our lives, even if the problem is still small.

For example, understanding how much time of our day and week we spend in front of these screens can indicate how much use may be becoming excessive.

If use has become a major problem in your life, I suggest you seek treatment from a psychology professional.

Reading recommendations:

Internet Addiction – Assessment and Treatment Handbook and Guide

Internet addiction in children and adolescents

I also recommend trying this video practice – Media Fast:

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