Computer addiction can be described as the overuse of the computer which continues despite serious negative consequences for personal, social or occupational functions. However, not all people who spend hours each day on the computer are considered addicted. There are many uses for computers and the Internet and in many cases, an individual may spend ６ or more hours in a day on the computer but still not be considered an addict. Therefore, there is no set number of hours that is considered a potential for computer addiction.

But those who are suffering from anxiety and depression caused by stress at work, relationships or financial problems tend to become computer addicts. Some people become addicted mainly because they feel bored with everything and feel like there is nothing else to do.

If one feels an intense desire to go online, play a computer game, or socialize as soon as he wakes up and before he goes to bed, he may have become an addict. Other symptoms include using the computer as the only source of entertainment, lying to his family and friends about the activities that he performs while on the computer. Some addicts possess anxious feelings when wanting to use the computer or knowing that time on the computer is limited. Others may lose track of time while on the computer and spend more time on it than intended. The computer can also be used as a form of escapism from reality.

Excessive computer use may result in the lack of face-to-face social interaction and an increasing amount of time and money on hardware, software and computer-related activities. Computer addiction makes one neglect his work, school, or family obligations. He often fails at repeated efforts to control computer use. So it’s time to seek help for the sake of health.

Counseling (心理辅导) or therapy can focus on treating underlying mental health conditions that caused the addiction such as anxiety, depression, social trauma or other conditions. Many different options for group or community support are available to assist those addicts. Just getting out and interacting with others can be very rewarding to the computer addict. Another method is to focus on new interests. For instance, a computer user might take part in a new gym membership, spend time at the movies with friends or go out for a walk. If a computer user does feel that he must go onto the computer, consider talking himself out of the computer use unless it is absolutely necessary. If he does go on the computer, he must make a plan for what he will do when on the computer, how long it will take and what time you will be off of the computer.

     "The dog ate my homework." "He started it." "Iˈm sick today." "Sheˈs not here." Children tell these lies frequently, often to avoid punishment, get rid of embarrassment or even protect someone. Even though children and adults seem to tell lies for the same reasons, childrenˈs lying tends to be thought more often as morally wrong, according to Wendy Gamble, a professor at the University of Arizona in Tucson.

     Professor Gamble suggests, "A tendency (趋势) to lie or cheat will influence the way children form and maintain relationships with others. Honesty is the basis of effective communication and healthy relationships. Rather than dismiss all lies as bad, however, we should put these lies in social contexts and admit that some of them are common and frequently socially acceptable." She adds that parents need to discuss this issue in terms of when and to whom it might be appropriate to lie, instead of saying lying is absolutely wrong at any time.

     In order to find out more about why children lie and how that fits into their social interactions, Professor Gamble studied both positive and negative types of lies among 98 school children in Tucson. All of the students participated voluntarily, with their parentsˈ permission.

     Results from the study showed that truth-telling exceeded (超过) lying for all of the children, but they also showed lying increased with age, and that the lies were mostly told to benefit someone. Very few of them were meant to hurt someone.

     Professor Gamble reminds us that these results are primary and that more studies are needed particularly to make sure parentsˈ roles in childrenˈs lying and determine the effects of cultural differences on childrenˈs lying. "Weˈd also like to study why some children continue to lie even when it does not seem to serve any purpose", Professor Gamble says, "And because the children in the study were mostly from middle—class backgrounds，the next step would be to look at cultural difierences．"

Title：Prolessor Gambleˈs studv on childrenˈs lying