Cell-Phone Addiction

Andres CortezEnglish 214.93

What is cell phone addiction?

The American Psychiatric Association defines addiction as: “a chronic brain disease that causes compulsive substance use despite harmful consequences. Health, finances, relationships and careers can be ruined”(American Psychiatric Association).

The definition of cell phone addiction can be debated but be thought as:a lack of control over the use of a cell phone, with consequences such as the inability to succeed in school, harm relationships and fear to be out of cell phone contact also known as nomophobia(Family Bootcamp and English Dictionary).

Dopamine Loop and Opioid System Theory

Susan Weinschenk’s theory is that our “wanting system (dopamine)” overpowers our “liking system (opioid system)” which results in us seeking more than we are satisfied with. In other words, this can explain why people have a tendency to constantly be checking and responding to messages.

Dopamine Loop and Opioid System Theory

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This means that for the average person who sleeps 8 hours, s/he checks a cell-phone 150 per day.

New research suggests that people, on average, check their phones every six minutes (Willard).

And I believe that there are young adults that check there cell-phone every minute when they do not have anything else to do

Signs of cell phone addiction

• Excessive compulsion to check cell-phone

• Usage of a cell-phone in an inappropriate place

• Replacing face-to-face Interaction.

Excessive compulsion to check cell-phone

This is when people have the need to check their cell-phone frequently. It can be to check if they received text messages, calls, emails, and notifications from social networking applications.

Usage of a cell-phone in an inappropriate place

Two examples of this is when people with authority like parents complain about family member using a cell-phones at dinner time. It can also be when students prefer to check their cell-phones while a professor is conducting a class.

Replacing face-to-face Interaction.

This is when people limit their interactions with people physically in front of one another.

Quick fact:“replacing face-to-face interactions is one of the most common warning signs of cell-phone addiction” (Borreli)

Prevent cell-phone addiction

People can prevent cell phone addition by being conscious, being strong, and being disciplined.

Consciousness

People can be conscious by checking themselves by determining if they check their cell-phone because of boredom, loneliness, or anxiety. If that is the case, people can start to find a something else to be distracted by.

Be strong

People can be strong by avoiding to answer any incoming notification, but if it is too difficult to do that because of the beeping sounds and vibrations, that can be solved by turning off the alert signals.

Discipline

People can discipline themselves by not using a cell-phone during certain times.

People can start by choosing a certain time during the day, and set a goal of not using a cell-phone during that period of time.

For those who cannot gain control over their situation, they can use StayFocusd. A browser extensions that will block any website after reaching the time period that it is set to.

Conclusion

By following the three previous tips, cell-phone addictioncan be avoidable by recognizing bad cell-phone usage habits.

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Position Paperhttps://docs.google.com/document/d/18Fbp5LC3mvPTEvicm31jf-57lweEwq2JRXtEk7NPKTw/edit?usp=sharing.

Reference page

1."Addiction." American Psychiatric Association. Web. 20 Apr. 2015. <http://www.psychiatry.org/addiction>.2."Teen Cell Phone Addiction." Family Bootcamp. Web. 4 May 2015. <http://familybootcamp.org/cell-phone-addiction/>.3. "English Dictionary." Nomophobia. Web. 4 May 2015. <http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/nomophobia>.4. "Study: People Check Their Cell Phones Every Six Minutes, 150 Times A Day." Elite Daily. 11 Feb. 2013. Web. 4 May 2015. <http://elitedaily.com/news/world/study-people-check-cell-phones-minutes-150-times-day/>.5. Borreli, Lizette. "Technology Addiction: Warning Signs of A Cell Phone Addict." Medical Daily. 2 July 2013. Web. 20 Apr. 2015. <http://www.medicaldaily.com/technology-addiction-warning-signs-cell-phone-addict-247344>6. Willard, Stephen. "Study: People Check Their Cell Phones Every Six Minutes, 150 Times A Day." Study People Check Their Cell Phones Every Six Minutes 150 Times A Day Comments. Elite Daily, 11 Feb. 2013. Web. 13 May 2015. <http://elitedaily.com/news/world/study-people-check-cell-phones-minutes-150-times-day/>.