Additional information
by Petros Levounis (Editor), James Sherer (Editor)
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.
Front Jacket
Technological Addictions is the first guide designed to provide insight and strategies to clinicians, patients, and families grappling with the collateral damage of technology's pervasiveness and pull. Mental health professionals are beginning to understand that video games, online pornography, internet gaming, internet gambling, and other technological pastimes can be every bit as addictive as substances such as alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs. Many of these technologies provide countless benefits and are integral to modern life, so identifying pathological use is a nuanced exercise. Petros Levounis is among the foremost experts on addiction and, together with coeditor James Sherer and a roster of prominent contributors, has created a groundbreaking book that emphasizes the lived reality of the people who struggle with these addictions every day. In 10 rigorous yet down-to-earth chapters, the book explores the psychological and cultural context of each technology and related behavior, from social media to cybersex, and examines thoroughly the difference between healthy engagement with technology and addiction. This discussion is premised on the understanding that technology should not be rolled back or restricted but is an increasingly beneficial and even necessary part of modern life. Two chapters specifically focus on the way technology addictions impact particular populations, such as children and adolescents and older adults.
Addiction to technology is emerging as a serious medical condition, not just an exaggeration of everyday social and personal ailments of the 21st century. Technological Addictions provides guidance found nowhere else, guidance that both clinicians and laypeople will find useful and compelling.
Author Biography
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.
