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Decision-making and Related Processes in Internet Gaming Disorder and Other Types of Internet-Use Disorders

  • Technology Addiction (J Billieux, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

The review aims to characterize decision-making in individuals with symptoms of Internet gaming disorder (IGD) and other types of Internet-use disorders. We therefore discuss both theories of decision-making and theoretical models of Internet-use disorders as well as recent studies which investigated decision-making in these addictive behaviors.

Recent Findings

Studies from 2012 to 2017 demonstrated that individuals with symptoms of IGD show riskier behavior, tend to disregard objective probabilities, display reduced feedback processing, and have a preference for immediate rewards. These behaviors are related to increased reward sensitivity and reduced executive/inhibitory control on behavioral and brain levels.

Summary

Risky and short-termly oriented decisions may be major aspects in the development and maintenance of IGD and other Internet-use disorders. Dual-process models of decision-making can explain the addictive behavior by interactions between immediate reward expectation, specific predisposing factors, and situational aspects. These interactions make it increasingly likely that short-term-oriented impulses towards the use of specific Internet applications overwhelm attempts to reflectively control the behavior.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. General Psychology: Cognition and Center for Behavioral Addiction Research (CeBAR), University of Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Germany

    Johannes Schiebener & Matthias Brand

  2. Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Essen, Germany

    Matthias Brand

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  1. Johannes Schiebener
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Correspondence to Matthias Brand.

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Dr. Johannes Schiebener and Prof. Dr. Matthias Brand declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Schiebener, J., Brand, M. Decision-making and Related Processes in Internet Gaming Disorder and Other Types of Internet-Use Disorders. Curr Addict Rep 4, 262–271 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-017-0156-9

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