Affiliation:
1. Gülhane School of Medicine, University of Health Sciences, Turkey
Abstract
Addiction can be briefly defined as the inability to stop using or control a substance or behavior. This concept can be used for many substances such as cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, as well as behavioral addictions such as eating, gaming, sex, gambling, computer and smartphone usage, television watching, internet and social media usage, digital game shopping, etc. Among these addictions, we can collectively consider computer, smartphone, television, internet, social media, and digital game addictions as “technological addictions.” The concept of technology addiction entered our lives after the 2000s, when the internet and technological tools became widespread. In this chapter, the concept of addiction and the causes of addiction are defined in general, followed by the concept of behavioral addiction and its causes. And finally, the concept of technology addiction and its causes are explained with the support of the literature. In addition, the equivalents of these definitions in the relevant diagnostic guidelines and ICD diagnosis codes are mentioned.