Abstract

FORTIM, Ivelise  and  ARAUJO, Ceres Alves de. Psychological aspects of pathological use of the internet. Bol. - Acad. Paul. Psicol. [online]. 2013, vol.33, n.85, pp. 292-311. ISSN 1415-711X.

The purpose is to understand the experience of pathological internet use (UPI) from self-reported users who declare themselves "internet addicts". This is qualitative research, being a documental, transversal and retrospective study. The data are treated: (i) using the SPAD-T program and (ii) using analytical categories, which were analyzed by Jungian psychology. The sample consists of 189 subjects, who sent 278 messages collected in the period from 02/2001 to 06/2011. The results indicate that the most frequent use seems to be for communicating, for sexual purposes and for navigation. Four psychological aspects more presented can be highlighted: (i) on the control dynamics: the internet gives the user the feeling of great control over relationships with others and the self-image, (ii) PIU appears to be a process of coping with situations of stress and anxiety (iii) feature of internet activities are seen at the same time as illusion and as real; (iv) a liberating role, whether from dark aspects, of aggressive sexual behavior, or from aspects even recognized, but that are not assumed to others. Many users report serious adverse consequences, such as damage at work, social impairment, damage studies, etc. It is concluded that the internet is not harmful in itself, but may provide a pathological use with serious consequences for certain users who are in vulnerable situations and use the internet to relieve the problems. Many images of the Jungian Theory translate experiences derived from UPI, which indicate that this focus is adjustable to the research and to others that may be derived from it.

Keywords : pathological Internet use; behavioral dependence; Analytical Psychology.

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