THE IMPACT OF SHYNESS AND BODY DYSMORPHIA ON INTERNET ADDICTION

THE IMPACT OF SHYNESS AND BODY DYSMORPHIA ON INTERNET ADDICTION

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Background to the study

Addiction to the internet has been a significant contributor to many problems over the years, particularly among secondary school kids because they are the ones that use smart phones the most these days (Ozturk, Ekinci, Ozturk, & Canan, 2021). Addiction to the internet may lead to the same kind of problems in one's personal life, family life, academic life, financial life, and professional life as other addictions. Excessive usage of the internet may have a negative impact on one's real-world connections and cause disruptions in such interactions. People who are addicted to the Internet spend more time alone, have fewer meaningful relationships with the people in their lives, and are frequently seen as being socially uncomfortable. Because so much time is spent online, there is a possibility that disagreements may arise (Podsakoff, MacKenzie, Lee, & Podsakoff, 2022). People who are addicted to the internet may try to hide the amount of time they spend online, which can lead to mistrust and a decline in the quality of relationships that were once steady. Some individuals who are addicted to the Internet may construct online personas or profiles in which they are able to change their identities and appear to be someone other than themselves (Safree, Yasin, Dzulkifli, 2022). People who have poor self-esteem, feelings of inadequacy, and a fear of being judged are at the greatest risk for creating a secret existence for themselves. These kinds of unhealthy conceptions of oneself can lead to clinical issues such as sadness and anxiety (Ozturk, Ekinci, Ozturk, & Canan, 2021). A lot of people who try to cut back on their Internet use go through withdrawal, which can include feelings such as rage, melancholy, relief, mood swings, anxiety, fear, impatience, sorrow, loneliness, boredom, restlessness, procrastination, and upset stomach. A person who is addicted to the Internet may experience a variety of physical symptoms or health issues, including but not limited to: carpal tunnel syndrome; dry eyes; backaches; severe headaches; eating irregularities (such as skipping meals); inattention to personal hygiene; and sleep disturbances (Ozturk, Ekinci, Ozturk, & Canan, 2021).

Internet addiction disorder, often referred to as problematic internet usage (PIU) (Moreno, Jelenchick, & Christakis, 2013), is defined as excessive use of the internet to the point where it disrupts a person's day-to-day life (Byun, Ruffini, Mills, Juline, Douglas, Niang, Stepchenkova, Lee, Loutfi, Lee, Atallah & Blanton, 2009).

Although Internet addiction disorder was initially presented as a condition in a humorous spoof (Goldberg, 1995; Beato, 2010), several later researchers have taken his article seriously. He chose to make use of this word because he felt it was an appropriate match for his parody. The purpose of this concept that he came up with was to illustrate how complicated and stringent the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders manual is (Podsakoff, MacKenzie, Lee, & Podsakoff, 2022). "essential social or occupational activities that are given up or curtailed due of the usage of the internet," "fantasies or nightmares about the internet," and "voluntary or involuntary typing motions of the fingers" are some of the symptoms that he included in this parody (Wallis, 2016).

Goldberg has renamed Internet Addiction Disorder "pathological Internet use disorder" (also known as PIU) in order to prevent what he initially conceived of as a joke from being taken seriously as an officially diagnosed addiction, similar to an addiction to heroin. Goldberg did this in order to avoid having what he had initially conceived of as a joke be thought of as an addiction to heroin. It was suggested by Goldberg that it is absurd to obtain medical treatment or assistance for every conduct by classifying it as belonging to a psychiatric nomenclature (Podsakoff, MacKenzie, Lee, & Podsakoff, 2022). Goldberg continued by saying that if every excessive action could be considered an addiction, then we would need to organise support groups for those who cough constantly or who are hooked to reading books (Wallis & David, 2016). He used the diagnostic criteria for pathological gambling as outlined in the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) to serve as a model for the description of IAD. (Diagnostic Criteria for Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD) Published in 2009) The topic of Internet Addiction Disorder is regularly discussed in the media, and the ongoing discussion and investigation into whether or not it should be formally categorised as a mental illness is taking place within the field of psychiatry (Block, 2008). The lack of consistency in the idea of pathological internet use was recognised as a key barrier to progress in this field of study by a comprehensive literature analysis on the topic of pathological internet use (Moreno, 2011). "Other online behaviours such as reading, playing computer games, or viewing very large numbers of internet videos are only problematic to the degree that these activities interfere with regular living. This includes watching very large numbers of internet videos. Internet Addiction Disorder is typically segmented into subcategories based on activities, such as gaming; online social networking; (Masters, 2015); blogging; email; excessive, overpowering, or inappropriate usage of internet pornography; (Turel & Serenko, 2010); or internet shopping (shopping addiction) (eBay Addiction, 2014) Opponents point out that addictive traits are not necessarily present in compulsive actions (PsychCentral, 2018).

Addiction to the internet is a subtype of the more general problem known as "technology addiction." At the very least, widespread preoccupation with technology can be traced back to radio in the 1930s and television in the 1960s; however, its significance has skyrocketed with the advent of the digital era (Rosen et al, 2012). According to the findings of a research that was recently published in the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking (2014), the rate at which people get addicted to the Internet varies greatly between nations and has a negative correlation with the quality of life in those nations (Cheng & Li, 2014).

Some people experience an uncomfortable embarrassment or nervousness while approaching other people or when they are approached by other people. People who are shy typically have a strong need to connect with others, but they either do not know how or they are unable to bear the anxiety that comes along with human connection. This is in contrast to people who are introverts, who get their energy from spending time alone (Ozturk, Ekinci, Ozturk, & Canan, 2021). This is something that frequently takes place in novel settings or with new people. People who struggle with low self-esteem often exhibit the attribute of being shy. Stronger kinds of shyness are typically referred to as social anxiety or social phobia instead than just plain old shyness. The dread of what other people may think of a person's actions is the fundamental distinguishing trait of shyness. This concern is mostly driven by an individual's ego. This causes a person to develop a fear of doing or saying what they want to out of apprehension that they will receive unfavourable responses, such as ridicule, humiliation, or patronization, as well as criticism or rejection. It may be easier for someone who is shy to just choose to avoid being in social situations (Byun & colleagues, 2009).

The development of social skills is an important part of the condition known as shyness. It's possible that schools and parents make the assumption that youngsters are completely capable of having productive social interactions. Because the development of social skills is not given any importance in education (unlike reading and writing), timid kids are not given the opportunity to develop their capacity to engage in class and connect with classmates. This is because reading and writing are given priority. Teachers may provide a good example for students by demonstrating appropriate social behaviours and by asking questions in a way that is less confrontational and frightening in order to coax reserved kids into participating in class discussions and developing friendships with their peers (Byun & colleagues, 2009).

There are several possible origins for initial timidity. Researchers are of the opinion that they have found genetic evidence that lends credence to the theory that shyness is, at the very least, largely inherited. On the other hand, there is research that shows a person's upbringing might also be responsible for their introversion and shyness (Ozturk, Ekinci, Ozturk, & Canan, 2021). Abuse of children, especially in the form of emotional abuse such as mocking, is included in this category. It is possible for a person to acquire shyness after they have already gone through the physical manifestations of anxiety. On the other hand, shyness may develop first and then lead to the manifestation of physical anxiety symptoms. The experience of fear, apprehension, or worrying about being evaluated by others in social situations to the point where it induces panic is characteristic of social anxiety, which is a more generalised psychological condition that is often related to depression. Shyness, on the other hand, is distinct from social anxiety. There are several potential causes of shyness, including inherited characteristics, the social setting in which a person is reared, and one's own life experiences. Children might be shy because of a personality feature or because they are going through certain phases of development (Ozturk, Ekinci, Ozturk, & Canan, 2021).

It is possible to use the term "shyness" as a lay blanket term for a family of related and partially overlapping afflictions. These related and partially overlapping afflictions include: timidity (apprehension in meeting new people), bashfulness and diffidence (reluctance in asserting oneself), apprehension and anticipation (general fear of potential interaction), or intimidation (relating to the object of fear rather than one's low confidence) (Dictionary.reference, 2018).

Character traits that cause an individual to voluntarily avoid excessive social contact or be terse in communication, but are not motivated by or accompanied by discomfort, apprehension, or a lack of confidence, are referred to as introversion and reservation, respectively. Apparent shyness, as perceived by others, may simply be the manifestation of reservation or introversion. According to Bernardo J. Carducci, a professor of psychology, introverts choose to avoid social situations because they derive no reward from them or may find surplus sensory input overwhelming, whereas shy people may fear such situations. Introverts, on the other hand, choose to avoid social situations because they derive no reward from them (Whitten, 2001). According to studies that make use of the statistical methods of component analysis and correlation, researchers have shown that shyness shares certain similarities with both introversion and neuroticism (also known as negative emotionality) (Crazier, 1979; Heiser, Turner & Beidel 2003; Shiner & Caspi, 2003) It's possible that an individual's already poor self-confidence might be bolstered by a culture that doesn't tolerate shyness or introversion very well (Cain, 2012). Both shyness and introversion can present externally as socially withdrawn behaviours, such as impulses to avoid social situations, particularly when they are unknown. This is one way that shyness and introversion can be distinguished from one another. According to the findings of a number of studies, shyness and introversion are not the same and cannot be conceptualised as sharing the same underlying causes. (Coplan, Rose-Krasnor, Weeks, Kingsbury, Kingsbury, & Bullock, 2012; Asendorpf & Meier 1993; Chen,Wang & Cao 2011; Susan 2012) These studies further distinguish introversion as involving being differently social (preferring one-on-one or small group interaction) (Cornish, 2012).

According to research, a socially withdrawn conduct in known social contexts does not elicit a distinct physiological reaction, such as an elevated heart beat, in comparison to socially withdrawn behaviour in new social situations. The fact that shyness causes a lack of response in unfamiliar social situations and that unsociability leads to decreased exposure to unfamiliar social situations suggests that shyness and unsociability affect two different aspects of sociability and are distinct personality traits. Unsociability also leads to decreased exposure to unfamiliar social situations (Susan, 2012). In addition, unsociability and shyness are seen differently across different cultures, which can have either a good or a negative effect on an individual's emotions of self-esteem. In collectivist societies, shyness is seen as a more positive trait related to compliance with group ideals and self-control, whereas chosen isolation (introverted behaviour) is seen negatively as a threat to group harmony; and because collectivist society accepts shyness and rejects unsociability, shy individuals develop higher self-esteem than introverted individuals do. Cultures that view shyness as a more positive trait related to compliance with group ideals and self-control (Chen, Wang & Cao, 2011). Individualistic cultures, on the other hand, view shyness as a weakness and a character flaw, whereas unsociable personality traits, such as a preference to spend time alone, are accepted because they uphold the value of autonomy. As a result, shy individuals tend to develop low self-esteem in Western cultures, whereas unsociable individuals tend to develop high self-esteem (Coplan, Rose-Krasnor, Weeks, Kingsbury, Kingsbury & Bullock, 2012). People who are seen to be shy are often referred to as being socially constrained. An individual might exhibit social inhibition when they restrict their actions of a social nature, either consciously or unconsciously. To put it another way, social inhibition is the act of holding back for reasons related to society.

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