Cellphone Addiction.doc

Cellphone Addiction ZhanglipingLike everything else, too much of a good thing can become damaging or even addictive. Cellphone overuse is such an unhealthy tendency that will eventually lead to cellphone addiction or an obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a kind of depression and the abnormal behavior of a person who tends to perform repetitive acts or rituals, usually as a means of releasing tension or relieving anxiety.Cellphone addiction might be one of the biggest non-drug addictions in the 21st century. The addicts feel anxious without their cellphone. As the younger generation in particular enjoys using mobile phones to send short messages (SMS) and photographs, teenagers are more likely to succumb to the addiction. Often the addiction is accompanied by a loss of control when confronted with special offers of the latest cellphones models. The addiction can totally isolate its victims, ruin them economically and even turn them into criminals. Cellphone today plays an irreplaceable role in the life of Chinese people. However, many of them have fallen victim to the addiction, too. They could never do without a cellphone, or they would feel quite uneasy. They like to hold theirs in their hand, even when no one calls them or sends them text messages. If they do not take theirs along with them, they will not be able to focus their attention on anything else at all. They will develop a severe anxiety if they have to enter a place with no coverage. Cellphone addiction is not that different from any other type of addiction, ranging from drugs to compulsive shopping. However, severe OCDs might cause physical symptoms like heartthrob. It is suggested that the patients should seek help from psychological therapists.A recent study by the Queensland University in Australia discovered what weve already pretty much known from several years of smartphone ownership, which is that peoples reliance on their cellphones can often take the form of an addiction. Diana James and her colleagues analyzed the behavior of mobile owners 45-and-under in situations where they were separated from their phones, and found that many displayed the same withdrawal symptoms common to smoking, gambling, or eating addictions: lower self esteem, nervousness, and in some cases, even deep agitation. Besides emotional problems, excessive calling and texting can lead to steep cellphone bills and even the occasional repetitive stress injury, warns James, who says that if youre using your phone to make yourself feel better at the expense of your job or your health, then you may have a problem. Dont worry, though, youre not alone.Cellphone AddictionCall us the never-off society. We tote our iPhones, LGs and BlackBerrys with us so we can contact anyone, anywhere, any timeand so we can be reached instantly. According to a recent Pew Internet & American Life Project survey, 51% of those polled said it would be very hard to give up their cellphones, up from 38% in 2002. The cellphone, in fact, was the most coveted technology in the survey, ahead of Internet access and television.But have mobile devices become too much of a good thing? While they provide constant access to people and information, they also make us more anxious and demanding. Theres no excuse anymore for missing a call, e-mail or text message. “If you dont pick up a girls phone call and youre dating hermy god, expect to buy flowers for her,” says Shaun Mehtani, a restaurateur in Morristown, N.J.And a network glitch can wreck your entire day. “When youre having a text conversation and the service drops, its like your whole world has ended,” says Megan Young, a graduate student at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. These arent the frustrations of an isolated few, but of the mobile majority. Our phones have become such a big part of how were able to function that it begs the question: Are we addicted to our cells? Experts say constant use of mobile devices hasnt been diagnosed as an addictionyet. But some contend that its fast on its way to being classified as a disease similar to drug addiction, alcoholism or gambling. David Greenfield, a psychologist who is an expert on Internet-related behaviors, says he predicted a decade ago that people would become ultra-dependent on mobile devices, even more than they are on PCs and laptops. Since phones dont weigh much and fit easily into a pocket or a purse, “the threshold is even easier to cross, and theres no end to it,” Greenfield says. “Youre pretty much hooked in wherever you are, if you want to be.”Greenfield says constant and continual use of untethered devices produces chemical responses in the body similar to gambling. When compulsive gamblers win a hand, they are motivated to keep playing till they win againno matter how much they lose in between. Its the same with mobile texting and e-mailing, he says. “Every once in a while youll get a good text message or e-mail between Viagra ads and Uganda money schemes,” Greenfield says. “Thats a hit, and its a powerful reinforcer.”Others, however, arent convinced that high-usage of mobile devices is an addiction or even detrimental to most peoples quality of life, if kept in check. “I believe dependency happens, but the extent to which it plays a harmful role in your life, that is another matter,” says Scott W. Campbell, an assistant professor at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, who studies cellphone behaviors. “I dont think its as harmful as substances or that it needs treatment,” he says.Campbell, however, notes that mobile devices were first seen as a convenience for accessing people and data without having to be indoors and only when absolutely necessary. Now, theyve morphed into on-call pagers and mini laptops full of digital content. “The technology has come to own many of us,” he admits.To avoid feeling stressed, set limits on usage, experts say. John Horrigan, associate director of Pews Internet project, says limits vary greatly by temperament and age. Younger people who grew up with wireless technologies tend to have a higher threshold for dealing with all the calls, e-mails and texts clogging their phones, while older people tend to feel annoyed and distracted by them. And if you think you have cellphone overload now, you aint seen nothin yet. Experts say usage will only increase as smart phones become more sophisticated and powerful, likely replacing laptops in the future. The growth in cellphone service subscribers and revenues support the trend. In just two years, the number of subscribers in the U.S. increased eight-fold to 225 million, or 84% of the population, in 2007 from 34 million, or 13%, in 2005, according to wireless industry association CTIA. Meanwhile, industry revenues soared to $139 billion from $19 billion. Worldwide, 3 billion people have mobile service.Despite the inexorable mobile tide, Greenfield says theres little clinical evidence that the devices improve quality of life. Mehtani agrees that his iPhone hasnt made him happierbut it has improved his business, he asserts.“I wouldnt say its made my life better. Its made my life efficient,” he says. “When my employees are communicating with each other, Im ccd so I dont have to be briefed.”Cellphone addiction driven by materialismCellphone and instant messaging addictions are driven by materialism and impulsiveness and are compared to compulsive buying and credit card misuse, research shows.Successful people vs. unsuccessful people Extrovert vs. introvert Cellphone and instant messaging addictions are driven by materialism and impulsiveness and can be compared to consumption pathologies like compulsive buying and credit card misuse, according to a Baylor University study in the Journal of Behavioral Addictions.Cellphones are a part of our consumer culture, said study author James Roberts, Ph.D., professor of marketing and the Ben H. Williams Professor of Marketing at Baylors Hankamer School of Business. They are not just a consumer tool, but are used as a status symbol. Theyre also eroding our personal relationships.Roberts study, co-authored with Stephen Pirog III, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of the department of marketing at Seton Hall University, found that materialism and impulsiveness drive cell phone addiction. Cell phones are used as part of the conspicuous consumption ritual and also act as a pacifier for the impulsive tendencies of the user, according to Roberts. Impulsiveness, he noted, plays an important role in both behavioural and substance addictions.Materialism and cellphone addicitonThis study is the first to investigate the role materialism plays in cellphone addiction. According to Roberts, materialism is an important consumer value that impacts many of the decisions we make as consumers. Additionally, cell phone use and over-use have become so common that it is important to have a better understanding of what drives these types of technological addictions.Previous studies have shown that young adults send an average of 109.5 text messages a day or approximately 3 200 texts each month. They receive an additional 113 text messages and check their cell 60 times in a typical day and on average, college students spend approximately seven hours daily interacting with information and communication technology.At first glance, one might have the tendency to dismiss such aberrant cell phone use as merely youthful nonsense a passing fad. But an emerging body of literature has given increasing credence to cell phone addiction and similar behavioural addictions, Roberts said.Data for this study come from self-report surveys of 191 business students at two US universities. Cellphones are used by approximately 90% of college students, and said Roberts, serve more than just a utilitarian purpose.Cellphones are accessible at any time, including during class, and possess an ever-expanding array of functions, which makes their use or over-use increasingly likely. A majority of young people claim that losing their cell phone would be disastrous to their social lives, he said.Chinanews, Xian, Aug 6 A group of young women in Xian recently found a new way of making money chatting with older people. They can spend some time talking with the old people to help them kill the time and in return, they will charge a small sum of money for their work, Sanqin Daily reported. Last week, this reporter went to the Huancheng Park in Xian to have a look. When he arrived at the gate at five oclock in the afternoon, he saw some middle-aged or old people lau