Internet Addiction and Its Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Internet addiction or problematic internet use is one of the newest areas of interest in psychiatry. The internet which was developed to increase communication and facilitate information exchange has grown beyond expectations making some users unable to control their internet use and thus experience problems in their functioning at work and in social and private spheres (Young 1999). The reasons for the internet becoming so widespread in such a short time have been the subject of many studies. To explain the increase in internet use for sexual pursuits, Cooper has defined a ‘Triple A Engine’ (Access, Affordability and Anonymity). Access is the ease of having access to the internet anywhere and anytime and finding whatever is sought in the internet where there is no refusal. Affordability is the ease of having access to the rich content of the internet especially in on-line sexuality in return for an affordable price. Anonymity is the secrecy of an individual’s both real and perceived identity (Cooper 1998). These popularizing and facilitating factors may enable us to understand the increase in using the internet in all other areas.