
Technological Addictions
American Psychiatric Association Publishing
Published on 6. September 2021
Book
Paperback/Softback
218 pages
978-1-61537-293-5 (ISBN)
Description
Technological Addictions is a wakeup call alerting
the medical community-and society at large-to the addictive potential of
technology and to technological addictions as legitimate psychiatric
conditions worthy of medical assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. No other
book tackles these addictions, individually and collectively,
contextualizing them for both mental health professionals and the interested
public. Petros Levounis, an authority on addiction who's been an early voice
on the intersection of addiction and technology, and James Sherer are
uniquely well-suited to the task, and they have recruited an impressive list
of contributors who write thoughtfully, eloquently, and authoritatively on
their respective topics. The 10 chapters address the different kinds of
technological addiction, as well as how they manifest and impact particular
populations. Core to this discussion is the fine line between addictive and
nonpathological use. After all, technology makes modern life possible, so
assessing whether patients have crossed that line is not an easy
task.
Other noteworthy topics
* In 2019, "gaming disorder" was added to the ICD-11, a controversial
move raised a difficult question: are video games addictive and harmful, or
are they just another pastime? The book helps clinicians understand video
games as a cultural phenomenon, analyzing both their social importance and
with their addictive potential.
* Cybersex and online pornography can
hijack our dopaminergic reward pathways like any other addictive substance,
destroying relationships, bank accounts, and mental health. The book
provides a brief history followed by a discussion of diagnostic criteria,
screening tools, associations, and treatments.
* Although seemingly
harmless, even social media can become addictive, as people create online
personae that may confuse and undermine both their sense of self and their
sense of connectedness to the world, leading to anxiety, depression,
impulsivity, and ADHD. The book helps readers distinguish between healthy
and pathological social media use and explores treatment options for the
latter.
* Technology is an integral factor in what has become known as
"information overload," which is associated with decreased performance and
job satisfaction, work-related stress, social isolation, impaired sleep,
relationship issues, and other problems. The book examines the underlying
psychology of internet addiction and problematic internet use, their
comorbidities, psychopathological models, and treatments.
*
Significantly older when first introduced to the internet, older adults may
face unique challenges and vulnerabilities, and this evolving understanding
of the role of technology in their lives, both in terms of positive changes
and the risk for pathological patterns of use and other potential harms, is
explored in-depth.
Although written primarily for psychiatrists and
other mental health professionals, patients, parents, teachers, students,
administrators, and anyone who is interested in how humans interact with
technology will find Technological Addictions fascinating and thought
provoking.
the medical community-and society at large-to the addictive potential of
technology and to technological addictions as legitimate psychiatric
conditions worthy of medical assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. No other
book tackles these addictions, individually and collectively,
contextualizing them for both mental health professionals and the interested
public. Petros Levounis, an authority on addiction who's been an early voice
on the intersection of addiction and technology, and James Sherer are
uniquely well-suited to the task, and they have recruited an impressive list
of contributors who write thoughtfully, eloquently, and authoritatively on
their respective topics. The 10 chapters address the different kinds of
technological addiction, as well as how they manifest and impact particular
populations. Core to this discussion is the fine line between addictive and
nonpathological use. After all, technology makes modern life possible, so
assessing whether patients have crossed that line is not an easy
task.
Other noteworthy topics
* In 2019, "gaming disorder" was added to the ICD-11, a controversial
move raised a difficult question: are video games addictive and harmful, or
are they just another pastime? The book helps clinicians understand video
games as a cultural phenomenon, analyzing both their social importance and
with their addictive potential.
* Cybersex and online pornography can
hijack our dopaminergic reward pathways like any other addictive substance,
destroying relationships, bank accounts, and mental health. The book
provides a brief history followed by a discussion of diagnostic criteria,
screening tools, associations, and treatments.
* Although seemingly
harmless, even social media can become addictive, as people create online
personae that may confuse and undermine both their sense of self and their
sense of connectedness to the world, leading to anxiety, depression,
impulsivity, and ADHD. The book helps readers distinguish between healthy
and pathological social media use and explores treatment options for the
latter.
* Technology is an integral factor in what has become known as
"information overload," which is associated with decreased performance and
job satisfaction, work-related stress, social isolation, impaired sleep,
relationship issues, and other problems. The book examines the underlying
psychology of internet addiction and problematic internet use, their
comorbidities, psychopathological models, and treatments.
*
Significantly older when first introduced to the internet, older adults may
face unique challenges and vulnerabilities, and this evolving understanding
of the role of technology in their lives, both in terms of positive changes
and the risk for pathological patterns of use and other potential harms, is
explored in-depth.
Although written primarily for psychiatrists and
other mental health professionals, patients, parents, teachers, students,
administrators, and anyone who is interested in how humans interact with
technology will find Technological Addictions fascinating and thought
provoking.
Reviews / Votes
This book reviews a variety of well-known and emerging usesof various transformative technologies, both normal and pathological. There
is nothing unique elucidated here. The book provides useful descriptions of
these "disorders" as well as some currently used psychosocial interventions. -- Michael Easton, MD * Doody *
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
VA
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
US School Grade: College Graduate Student and over
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
1 Figures; 8 Tables, unspecified
Dimensions
Height: 225 mm
Width: 151 mm
Thickness: 14 mm
Weight
364 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-61537-293-5 (9781615372935)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Petros Levounis | James Sherer
Technological Addictions
E-Book
07/2021
American Psychiatric Association Publishing
€43.99
Available for download
Persons
Petros Levounis, M.D., M.A., is a Professor and the
Chair of the Department of Psychiatry, as well as Associate Dean, at Rutgers
New Jersey Medical School and Chief of Service at University Hospital in
Newark, New Jersey.
James Sherer, M.D., is Chief Resident in
the Department of Psychiatry at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School in Newark,
New Jersey.
Chair of the Department of Psychiatry, as well as Associate Dean, at Rutgers
New Jersey Medical School and Chief of Service at University Hospital in
Newark, New Jersey.
James Sherer, M.D., is Chief Resident in
the Department of Psychiatry at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School in Newark,
New Jersey.
Content
Chapter 1. Video Games: From Harmless Pastime to Internet
Gaming Disorder
Chapter 2. Cybersex and Online Pornography: Hacking the
Human Sex Drive
Chapter 3. Internet Gambling: An Old Behavior in a New
Age
Chapter 4. Texting, Emailing, and Other Online Messaging: When Does
a Communication Tool Become a Burden?
Chapter 5. Internet Surfing and
Information Overload
Chapter 6. Social Media: The Self vs. the
Selfie
Chapter 7. Online Shopping and Auctions: The Ease and
Sleaze
Chapter 8. Children and Adolescents: Codependence Between Youth
and Tech
Chapter 9. Special Considerations for Older Adults
Chapter
10. New and Emerging Addictive Technologies: Where Do We Go From Here?
Gaming Disorder
Chapter 2. Cybersex and Online Pornography: Hacking the
Human Sex Drive
Chapter 3. Internet Gambling: An Old Behavior in a New
Age
Chapter 4. Texting, Emailing, and Other Online Messaging: When Does
a Communication Tool Become a Burden?
Chapter 5. Internet Surfing and
Information Overload
Chapter 6. Social Media: The Self vs. the
Selfie
Chapter 7. Online Shopping and Auctions: The Ease and
Sleaze
Chapter 8. Children and Adolescents: Codependence Between Youth
and Tech
Chapter 9. Special Considerations for Older Adults
Chapter
10. New and Emerging Addictive Technologies: Where Do We Go From Here?