Includes bibliographical references (pages 323-344) and index.

Text in English.

Part 1. What is behavioral addiction and where did it come from? -- The rise of behavioral addiction -- The addict in all of us -- The biology of behavioral addiction -- Part 2. The ingredients of behavioral addiction (or, How to engineer an addictive experience) -- Goals -- Feedback -- Progress -- Escalation -- Cliffhangers -- Social interaction -- Part 3. The future of behavioral addiction (and some solutions) -- Nipping addictions at birth -- Habits and architecture -- Gamification.

"An urgent and expert investigation into behavioral addiction, the dark flipside of today's unavoidable digital technologies, and how we can turn the tide to regain control...Tracing the very notion of addiction through history right up until the present day, Alter shows that we're only just beginning to understand the epidemic of behavioral addiction gripping society..."--