ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a brief history of internet use and define contemporary use and abuse. It offers a multidimensional examination of the phenomenon, including sociocultural, intrapsychic, and neurobiological aspects and theory of its etiology, with case examples. Internet addiction is a relatively new and evolving phenomenon that has burgeoned with the infusion of technology into our everyday life. The demographics of who is accessing the internet, how they are accessing the internet, and what they are doing once they have accessed the internet are in constant flux due to the exponential growth in worldwide users and the creativity of entrepreneurs. The chapter reviews theories on neurobiology, attachment, and self-psychology that have been used as a framework to understand the development and maintenance of internet addiction. A myriad of kinds of internet addiction and a range of severity allows for many kinds of treatments that may be effective depending upon the particular case.
