Digital Addiction and Consumption Decisions from a Behavioral Economics Perspective

DOI: https://doi.org/10.62517/jbm.202609222

Author(s)

Lianjie Ma

Affiliation(s)

Xi'an NO.30 Middle School, Xi'an, Shannxi, China

Abstract

From the perspective of behavioral economics, digital addiction, as a typical irrational behavioral phenomenon, has become a significant factor influencing individual consumption decisions in the digital age. This paper systematically analyzes the definition and characteristics of digital addiction, elucidates its theoretical foundation based on habit formation models and self-control issues, and dissects the formation mechanisms of over-guarantee paths, impulsive paths, and variable reward reinforcement. Furthermore, it explores the distorting effect of digital addiction on the consumption decision-making framework, demonstrating how it amplifies current preferences and cognitive biases, leading to decisions deviating from rational optimality. This, in turn, significantly enhances irrational consumption behavior through impulsive purchase paths and emotion regulation paths, ultimately forming a vicious cycle of distorted resource allocation. This research enriches the theoretical application of behavioral economics in the field of digital addiction and provides important theoretical support and practical insights for mitigating its negative impact on consumption behavior.

Keywords

Digital Addiction; Behavioral Economics; Consumer Decision-Making; Present Preferences; Impulse Buying

References

[1] Allcott, H., Gentzkow, M., Song, L.: Digital Addiction. American Economic Review 112(7), 2424-2463 (2022). [2] Acuff, SF, MacKillop, J., Murphy, JG: Applying behavioral economic theory to problematic Internet use: An initial investigation. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors 32(7), 846-857 (2018). [3] Robayo-Pinzon, O., Foxall, GR, Montoya-Restrepo, LA, Rojas-Berrio, S.: Does excessive use of smartphones and apps make us more impulsive? An approach from behavioral economics. Heliyon 7(2), e06104 (2021). [4] Berthon, P., Pitt, L., Campbell, C.: Addictive De-Vices: A Public Policy Analysis of Sources and Solutions to Digital Addiction. Journal of Public Policy & Marketing 38(4), 451-468 (2019). [5] Suresh, AS, Biswas, A.: A Study of Factors of Internet Addiction and Its Impact on Online Compulsive Buying Behavior: Indian Millennial Perspective. Global Business Review 21(4), 879-894 (2020). [6] Mason, MC, Zamparo, G., Marini, A., Ameen, N.: Glued to your phone? Generation Z's smartphone addiction and online compulsive buying. Computers in Human Behavior 136, 107404 (2022). [7] Maccarrone-Eaglen, A., Schofield, P.: The influence of social media addiction on compulsive buying behavior: A comparative analysis of LGBT+ and heterosexual consumers. Journal of Consumer Behavior 22(1), 98-121 (2023). [8] Lo, HY, Harvey, N.: Effects of shopping addiction on consumer decision-making. Journal of Behavioral Addictions 1(4), 162-170 (2012). [9] Tarka, P.: Consumers' personality and compulsive buying behavior: The role of hedonistic shopping experiences and gender in mediating-moderating relationships. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services 64, 102802 (2022). [10] James, S., Karthik, S., Thomas, B.: Chasing the digital high: should hedonic consumption be viewed through the lens of behavioral addiction? Frontiers in Psychiatry 16, 1681307 (2025).