Addiction takes many forms and has the potential to impact individuals of all ages, socio-economic statuses, and ethnic backgrounds. Digital addiction has become one of the latest topics of interest among researchers and mental health professionals as individuals become more engrossed in and reliant on digital devices. Psychological and Social Implications Surrounding Internet and Gaming Addiction focuses on the dark side of technology and the ways in which individuals are falling victim to compulsive internet use as well as gaming and gambling addictions. Highlighting socio-cultural, psycho-social, and techno-cultural perspectives on problematic technology use, this critical publication is essential to the research and practical needs of therapists, public administrators, psychologists, students, and researchers interested in compulsive disorders, human behavior, dependency, and other key mental health issues. A pivotal addition to the current mental health research available, this book focuses on topics including, but not limited to, Internet addiction, gaming addiction disorder, gambling, gamification, hypermedia seduction theory, MMORPGs, psychotherapy, and related public policy issues.

"This book focuses on the dark side of technology and the ways in which individuals are falling victim to compulsive internet use as well as gaming and gambling addictions"--

Addiction is a powerful and destructive condition impacting large portions of the population around the world. While typically associated with substances, such as drugs and alcohol, technology and internet addiction have become a concern in recent years as technology use has become ubiquitous. Psychological, Social, and Cultural Aspects of Internet Addiction is a critical scholarly resource that sheds light on the relationship between psycho-social variables and internet addiction. Featuring coverage on a broad range of topics such as human-computer interaction, academic performance, and online behavior, this book is geared towards psychologists, counselors, graduate-level students, and researchers studying psychology and technology use.

Internet Gaming Disorder: Theory, Assessment, Treatment, and Prevention is an informative and practical introduction to the topics of Internet gaming disorder and problematic gaming. This book provides mental health clinicians with hands-on assessment, prevention, and treatment techniques for clients with problematic gaming behaviors and Internet gaming disorder. It provides an overview of the existing research on epidemiology, risk and protective factors, and discusses the distinct cognitive features that distinguish gaming from gambling and other related activities and disorders. Clinicians will find interest in discussion of the latest developments in cognitive-behavioral approaches to gaming disorder as well as the best structure for clinical interviews. Included in clinical sections are details of the key indicators of harm and impairment associated with problem gaming and how these might present in clinical cases. Internet Gaming Disorder is strongly evidence-based, draws extensively upon the latest international research literature, and provides insights into the likely future developments in this emerging field both in terms of technological development and new research approaches. Discusses the conceptual basis of Internet gaming disorder as a behavioral addiction Provides screening approaches for measuring excessive gaming Details a structured clinical interview approach for assessing gaming disorder Provides evidence-based clinical strategies for prevention and treatment Covers cognitive behavioral therapy and harm reduction strategies

"This book provides an academically oriented and scientifically based description of how technological advances may have contributed to a wide range of mental health outcomes, covering the spectrum from problems and maladies to improved and expanded healthcare services"--

With the internet, smartphones, and video games easily available to increasing portions of society, researchers are becoming concerned with the potential side effects and consequences of their prevalence in people’s daily lives. Many individuals are losing control of their internet use, using it and other devices excessively to the point that they negatively affect their wellbeing as these individuals withdraw from social life and use their devices to escape from the pressure of the real world. As such, it is imperative to seek new methods and strategies for identifying and treating individuals with digital addictions. Multifaceted Approach to Digital Addiction and Its Treatment is an essential research publication that explores the definition and different types of digital addiction, including internet addiction, smartphone addiction, and online gaming addition, and examines overall treatment approaches while covering sample cases by practitioners working with digital addiction. This book highlights topics such as neuroscience, pharmacology, and psychodynamics. It is ideal for psychologists, therapists, psychiatrists, counselors, health professionals, students, educators, researchers, and practitioners.

The second edition of this successful book provides further and in-depth insight into theoretical models dealing with Internet addiction, as well as includes new therapeutical approaches. The editors also broach the emerging topic of smartphone addiction. This book combines a scholarly introduction with state-of-the-art research in the characterization of Internet addiction. It is intended for a broad audience including scientists, students and practitioners. The first part of the book contains an introduction to Internet addiction and their pathogenesis. The second part of the book is dedicated to an in-depth review of neuroscientific findings which cover studies using a variety of biological techniques including brain imaging and molecular genetics. The third part of the book focuses on therapeutic interventions for Internet addiction. The fourth part of the present book is an extension to the first edition and deals with a new emerging potential disorder related to Internet addiction – smartphone addiction. Moreover, in this second edition of the book new content has been added. Among others, the reader will find an overview of theoretical models dealing with Internet addiction, results from twin studies in the context of Internet addiction and additional insights into therapeutic approaches to Internet addiction.

Internet Addiction: A Handbook and Guide to Evaluation and Treatment "This book provides cutting-edge coverage by expanding the field to include specific problems such as online gaming, cybersex addiction, and gambling addiction. Its extensive attention to dealing with adolescents is essential, given the rapid rise in media and technology use by both Net Generation young adults and iGeneration teenagers. I am thrilled to have this invaluable, comprehensive, well-written resource for my own work and recommend it to people who need to understand this unique form of addiction." —Dr. Larry Rosen, Past Chair and Professor of Psychology at California State University, Dominguez Hills, author of Rewired: Understanding the iGeneration and the Way They Learn and Me, MySpace, and I: Parenting the Net Generation "Our clients come to us when online pornography, video gaming, social networking, gambling, and surfing create untenable disruptions in their lives. If we do not understand what we are seeing and how to address it, we will not be able to provide the help they need. This book provides the practical information clinicians can use to assess and treat this growing problem." —Hilarie Cash, PhD, coauthor of Video Games and Your Kids: How Parents Stay in Control, and cofounder of reSTART: Internet Addiction Recovery Program "Internet Addiction: A Handbook and Guide to Evaluation and Treatment provides an integrated and current overview of the different types of Internet addiction-gaming addiction, gambling addiction, and cybersex addiction. The authors deserve ample praise in providing such a comprehensive and informative guide for Internet addiction." —Ran Tao, MD, Professor and Director, and Xiuqin Huang, MD, Associate Professor, Treatment Center for Internet Addiction, General Hospital of Beijing Military Region, China The first empirically informed reference for defining, assessing, diagnosing, and treating problematic Internet use Comprehensive and timely, Internet Addiction explores: Validated assessment tools to differentiate normal from compulsive patterns of computer and online usage The most addictive or problematic online activities Epidemiology and subtypes of Internet addiction such as online pornography, Internet gambling, and online gaming Current theories on the risk factors associated with the development of an addictive disorder related to Internet usage Evidence-based treatment strategies for helping clients of various ages, taking into account main presenting problems and individual situations and circumstances International in scope and empirically based, the cultural and global impact of this subject is discussed, introducing practitioners to the latest clinical implications, assessment methods, and treatment approaches in working with clients suffering from this emerging addictive disorder.

What impact can video games have on us as players? How does psychology influence video game creation? Why do some games become cultural phenomena? The Psychology of Video Games introduces the curious reader to the relationship between psychology and video games from the perspective of both game makers and players. Assuming no specialist knowledge, this concise, approachable guide is a starter book for anyone intrigued by what makes video games engaging and what is their psychological impact on gamers. It digests the research exploring the benefits gaming can have on players in relation to education and healthcare, considers the concerns over potential negative impacts such as pathological gaming, and concludes with some ethics considerations. With gaming being one of the most popular forms of entertainment today, The Psychology of Video Games shows the importance of understanding the human brain and its mental processes to foster ethical and inclusive video games.