David N. Greenfield - Overcoming Internet Addiction For Dummies

Overcoming Internet Addiction For Dummies®

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Published simultaneously in Canada

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2021943694

ISBN 978-1-119-71187-2 (pbk); ISBN 978-1-119-71188-9 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-119-71189-6 (ebk)

1 Cover

2 Title Page

3 Copyright

4 Introduction About This Book Foolish Assumptions Icons Used in This Book Beyond the Book Where to Go from Here

5 Part 1: Getting Up to Speed on Addiction Basics Chapter 1: Defining and Overcoming Internet Addiction in a Nutshell Defining Behavioral Addiction Understanding How and Why People Get Addicted to Screens and the Internet Digging into Digital Devices and the Internet Recognizing the Threats Identifying the Signs and Symptoms of Internet and Screen Addiction Recovering from Internet and Screen Addiction Raising Tech-Healthy Children Balancing Technology with Real-Time Living Understanding the End of Privacy as You Knew It Chapter 2: Studying the Biology of Addiction Understanding the Evolutionary Biology of Addiction Identifying the Parts of the Brain Involved in Addiction Recognizing the Mind and Body Aspects of Addiction Chapter 3: Understanding Why Kids Are So Susceptible to Internet Addiction Exploring the Biological Basis for Addiction in Children and Teens Seeing the Impact of the Internet and the “Maybe” Factor on the Developing Brain Recognizing Lack of Experience as a Contributing Factor to Addiction Exploring Other Factors That Contribute to Addiction in Children and Teens Chapter 4: Discovering What Makes the Internet and Smartphones So Addictive Eyes on the Prize: Factors Involving Focus on a Screen The Good (or Bad) Stuff: Factors Involving Content This Must Be the Place: The Internet as the Car, Map, and Destination The Human Factor: The Internet as a Digital Drug

6 Part 2: Breaking Down Addictive Technologies Chapter 5: Examining the Addictive Nature of Social Media A Social Network: A Rose by Any Other Name Recognizing What Makes You Come Back to Social Media for More Seeking Communication and Self-Esteem — But at a Price Seeing Why Social Media Can Be Counter-Social Finding Relief: Life beyond Social Media Chapter 6: The Endless Stream: Binge Watching TV and Online Entertainment Missing Your Life While Being Entertained: The Ease of the Binge Looking at Other Problems of Watching TV All the Time It’s a Choice: Screening the Stream Chapter 7: Exploring Video Games and Video Game Addiction Wondering How a Video Game Can Be Bad for You Understanding What Makes Video Games So Addictive Digging Up More Trouble Hidden within Video Gaming Chapter 8: The Risks of Online Shopping, Gambling, and Stock Trading Taking on Cybersecurity Shopping Online: The Socially Acceptable Addiction Placing a Risky Bet with Online Gambling Rolling the Dice with Online Investing Chapter 9: Combining Addictions: The Power of Porn and the Internet Understanding Why Pornography Is So Appealing Identifying the Many Manifestations of Online Sexuality The Psychological, Biological, and Legal Repercussions of Online Sexuality

7 Part 3: Diagnosing and Treating Internet Addiction Chapter 10: Identifying the Signs and Symptoms of Internet Addiction or Overuse Recognizing Cognitive Symptoms Studying Psychological and Emotional Symptoms Seeing the Physical Symptoms and Health Effects of Too Much Tech Looking at Behavioral Issues When You’re Addicted to the Internet Chapter 11: Taking a Self-Assessment Warning Signs of Internet Addiction in Your Spouse, Friend, or Loved One Virtual Addiction Test Smartphone Compulsion Test Digital Distraction Self-Test Greenfield Video Game Addiction Test Shopping, Gambling, and Investing Online Pornography Test Cybersex Abuse Test Child Technology Test: Is Your Child Too Connected? Chapter 12: Adopting Self-Help Strategies Remembering That Life Isn’t Lived on a Screen Disrupting Your Tech Habits with a Digital Detox Monitoring and Limiting Your Time and Content on Screens Establishing Values-Based Tech Use Removing Notifications and Addictive Apps Filling Your Life with Real-Time Activities Chapter 13: Exploring and Evaluating Treatment Options First Things First: Talking about Terminology Checking Out Different Psychotherapies Figuring Out Which Treatment Is Best Prepping for Treatment Using Alternative Interventions and Other Treatment Approaches Treating Co-occurring Psychological Issues Connected to Internet Addiction