Dr. James Roberts, in his article on Yahoo.com, claimed cell phone addiction is similar to computer or gaming addictions after researching the topic. “Anything that can produce pleasure in your brain has the potential of becoming addictive. Loss of control is the essential element of any addiction,” Dr. Roberts reported. The article continues to name six indicators of a possible cell phone addiction; salience, mood modification, tolerance, withdrawal, conflict and relapse. Dr. Roberts offers the following 12 statements that readers can use to determine whether or not they have a cellphone addiction by answering “yes” or “no.” 1. The first thing I reach for after waking in the morning is my cellphone. 2. I would turn around and go back home on the way to work if I had left my cellphone at home. 3. I often use my cellphone when I am bored. 4. I have pretended to take calls to avoid awkward social situations. 5. I find myself spending more and more time on my cellphone. 6. I spend more time than I should on my cellphone. 7. I become agitated or irritable when my cellphone is out of sight. 8. I have gone into a panic when I thought I had lost my cellphone. 9. I have argued with my spouse, friends, or family about my cellphone use. 10. I use my cellphone while driving my car. 11. I have tried to curb my cellphone use, but the effort didn’t last very long. 12. I need to reduce my cellphone use, but am afraid I can’t do it. Each of these questions can indicate a different aspect of the addiction. Questions 1 and 2 can indicate salience; questions 3 and 4 can indicate euphoria, which is a sign of mood modification; questions 5 and 6 can indicate tolerance a major factor in addictions; questions 7 and 8 can indicate possible withdrawal symptoms; questions 9 and 10 can indicate conflict that is caused by the addiction; and questions 11 and 12 can indicate relapse. If you answered "yes" more than eight times, Dr. Roberts suggests setting an appointment with a clinic. For those on campus, the counseling services can help. If you answered "yes" five to seven times, you are headed towards and addiction. If it was three or four, It is time to start analyzing your cell phone use, and if two or less of the above 12 statements were true for you, you are afraid of technology.No matter what readers scored, Dr. Roberts said that cellphones are not going anywhere, so we should all learn how to manage our use. Dr. Roberts suggested finding a time each day to “unplug” from our digital lives and devote time to what really matters, “friends, family, and being in the moment.” Alyssa Asplund, a sophomore from San Diego studying Graphic Design, couldn’t agree more with Dr. Roberts. “In society we focus so much on instant gratification. We want information right away just because it’s more convenient.” Asplund continued, “It’s a very impatient and crazy way to live. I find it absolutely inhuman and it’s like we’re turning into a bunch of robots.” Uploaded Feb. 26, 2015.
Writer: Kaitlin Broyles
