Why We Cannot Put Down Our Smartphones: Explaining Compulsive Smartphone Use through Positive and Negative Reinforcement Processes

Description

Smartphones, handheld personal computers, have exploded to become a daily part of our lives. With the growing sophisticated and multifunctional capability of smartphones, people are becoming increasingly dependent to their smartphones not only for interpersonal communication through voice or text, but also as a tool for instant news, online gaming, online shopping, and social networking. For the majority of individuals, the use of mobile devices is a normal and routine part of everyday life. However, for some users, they look at their phones’ menu screens, news, email and apps throughout the day. The failure to control an overwhelming impulse to check their phones pervades their lives and results in negative consequences.In recent years, studies on the compulsive use of mobile phones have started to appear in the literature, particularly from psychiatrists, psychologists and social psychologists. However, existing studies tend to be exploratory in nature. For instance, most studies focused on demographics and personality traits of mobile phone users, as well as dimensions and measurement instruments of compulsive use of mobile phones. Some researchers addressed diagnoses, symptom management and treatment strategies for compulsive mobile phone use. However, theory-guided studies on the development of compulsive mobile phone uses are relatively rare.There is little understanding of the process of compulsive behavior, as well as the variables affecting its enactment. Furthermore, the theoretical understanding of compulsive use of technologies is lacking in the IS literature. Therefore, this research project aims at enriching existing IS literature on compulsive use of technologies by proposing a research model that explains the development of compulsive use of smartphones. Specifically, we propose a research model to explain how positive and negative reinforcements drive compulsive smartphone use. We will test the research model using an online survey of active smartphone users. Important theoretical and practical contributions are expected from this study. On the theoretical side, this research project addressing compulsive use of technologies will enrich existing IS literature by augmenting our knowledge of typical system usage. Particularly, our result will illustrate how the key underlying mechanisms of compulsive use (i.e., positive and negative reinforcements) operate together to drive compulsive smartphone use. On the practical side, this empirical investigation is timely to enhance our understanding of the problematic usage of smartphones, a seemingly universal phenomenon. The results will help clinicians, educators, and parents to develop possible counter-measures against compulsive use of smartphones.