Granger's Paper Proposal

In my paper I will be exploring whether or not there is an attempt to pathologize social interaction via electronic medium with a focus on the internet. I will focus on the ongoing discussion by professionals in the mental health field as to whether or not Internet Addiction should be included in the American Psychiatric Association’s publication of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual V, currently intended for publication in 2013. Not only is there a lack of consensus as to whether this diagnosis is valid there is disagreement amongst those who support inclusion of the diagnosis as to the criterion for diagnosing an individual with Internet Addiction. Some have suggested diagnostic criterion focus on behavior of the individual while others are focused on the outcomes associated with social interaction through electronic medium. The past suggests that the outcome of this debate will have serious policy and legal implications for many people. While not responsible for their creation, the pathologizing of homosexual activity in the third version of the Diagnostic Statistical Manual was used to validate laws that fined and/or incarcerated many individuals. Even if not used to support legislation the most recent version of the Diagnostic Statistical Manual is the legally the standard for diagnosis of mental health disorders. Being diagnosed with a mental illness can result in an individual’s rights being revoked until they can demonstrate remission or lack of illness. I will explore whether or not the varying criterion for diagnosis are consistent with criterion for other forms of addiction. I will also the historical association, if any exists, between emerging forms of technology and pathology of behavior.

Thesis: As I have not explored this topic in the past I am unsure of what I will find. I suspect that the professionals who define mental health are not immune identifying new and emerging technologies as “other” and associating excessive use with deviant behavior.