Causes
Internet addiction may develop due to psychodynamic and personality factors, sociocultural factors, behavioral factors and biomedical factors.
A number of reasons may explain the development of internet addiction disorder. These include:
- Psychodynamic and personality factors: Internet addiction may occur due to the personality of the patient with superimposed stressors that predispose to developing addiction.
- Sociocultural factors: Internet addiction may depend on social and cultural factors; however, more studies are required to establish these as a cause of addiction to the internet.
- Behavioral factors: The internet allows a person to escape from reality, receive love or have lots of fun. This reinforces the need to visit the internet more often and experience the rewards. This ultimately results in addiction.
- Biomedical Factors: Factors that are hereditary like chromosomal problems, chemical imbalances in the brain or alteration in the level of neurotransmitters can lead to internet addiction, as seen with other addictions.
