Cognitive-Behavioural Model of Pathological Internet Use

In addition, Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be an effective treatment for teens who are coping with depression and social media addiction. It is a short-term and problem-focused type of behavioral treatment. It helps the teenagers consider the relationship between their thoughts and their following behavior patterns. The main aspect of this therapy, is that external events and individuals do not cause the negative thoughts or feelings, it’s our thoughts that relate to our external behaviors. Consequently, CBT therapists work with depressed teenagers to boost their happiness by identifying patterns of thinking or behavior that are behind their depression, and then work to change this distorted thinking.

As well, Davis R. A, defines in his Cognitive-Behavioural Model of Pathological Internet Use(2001), healthy use of the internet as using it in a period that is considered reasonable and with a clear purpose. Thus distinguishing the difference between real communication and online communications. Positive e?ects of CBT within the treatment of internet addiction were tested and emphasized by Seval Erden and Osman Hatun after seven sessions of treatment on a client who was thought “life had no meaning” when she was not online.

However, teenagers’ quest for independence continues to be a major conflict with their parents. In one corner, they want to differentiate themselves, form their own values, and figure out their own right decisions. Thus, they reject the rules that limit screen times and consider it a ban from their own rights. In the other corner, the parents who are applying their life experiences to protect their teenagers. These power struggles, are destructive to the relationship between the teenagers and their parents. According to psychotherapist Neil Brown, these battles occur as the result of self-perpetuating negative relationship patterns. Besides, interparental conflicts act against discipline rules. Families where each parent follows different rules and different displine strategies with their teengers, are more likely to lose control over their behaviors. Kathy Hardie-Williams, a marriage and family therapist, confirms that: “Parental conflict can result in reduced parental involvement, harsh discipline practices, lack of praise and acknowledgement, and increased parent-child conflict.”

As a conclusion, parents should monitor the time their teenagers spend online and be part of the proactive efforts to help them use social media in a responsible way. The goal, after all, isn’t to control and prevent them from using their smartphones, but to moderate the use of the online sites. At the end, teenagers today are the backbones of the country and strong building always has a strong foundation. Therefore, it’s important to change the destructive patterns of social media use before it destroys our future generation.

Cite this page