Causes

 
Anonymity

The Internet is inundated with bogus names and undisclosed identities. This is one of the lures for people with maladaptive cognitions such as low self-esteem to engage in pathological Internet use. Dr. Kimberly S. Young hypothesized that those who suffer from deeper psychological problems may be the ones who are drawn the most to the anonymous interactive capabilities of the Internet in order to overcome these perceived inadequacies. For example, people with low self-esteem may give themselves awe-inspiring bogus names just to raise their sense of worth. In light to the anonymity that the Internet provides, Paul Gallant, a licensed addiction counselor at the Sierra Tucson Center for Addiction in Arizona says, "Your life may be really boring in reality, but online you're a competitive superhero."

Causes

-Behavioural explanations

-Cyber-relationships

-Anonymity

-Biomedical explanations

-Psychodynamics & personality

-Hungry for knowledge

-Convenience

-Technological advances

-Internet pornography & cybersex

-Alternative theory

 

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