Failure to decrease the addictive usage of information technologies: A theoretical model and empirical examination of smartphone game users

This paper aims to reveal why smartphone game addicts cannot decrease their addictive behaviors. Social cognitive theory serves as a framework for interpreting the failure of decreased behavior with a three-stage process. Following this perspective, key drivers in each process are proposed to explain the underlying reasons. A longitudinal survey with 381 valid responses was conducted. Results indicate that addicts with intention to decrease playing games may attempt to suppress their playing thought. Then, intrusive thought of playing games and impulsive playing emerge in the first stage. The ubiquity feature of smartphone strengthens the positive influence of intrusive thought on impulsive playing. In the second self-judgment stage, addicts perceive a higher level of difficulty to decrease, which further leads to deficient self-efficacy. These maladaptive judgments reduce the reaction of decreased behavior. This study is one of the first ones to reveal key factors causing decrease failure in the context of smartphone game addiction. Implications are offered.