Understanding Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Integration Challenges Among Afghan Special Contributors in South Korea
Ghafary Abdullatif, Kim So Yoon and Kim Hyung Ho
As digital technologies become deeply interwoven into everyday life, a new class of addictions -
behavioural rather than substance-based is emerging with increasing clinical urgency. This article
explores the neurobiological and psychological underpinnings of behavioural addictions, emphasising
the central role of dopamine in driving compulsive engagement with activities such as social media,
gaming, online shopping, and streaming. Drawing on current research in neuroscience and behavioural
psychology, the paper examines how modern digital environments are deliberately engineered to
exploit the brain’s reward circuitry and habit formation mechanisms, leading to persistent patterns of
compulsion that mimic the dynamics of substance use disorders. The subtle onset of these behaviours,
their social normalisation, and the absence of formal diagnostic criteria complicate both recognition
and treatment. In response, this article outlines evidence-based therapeutic interventions - including
Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Interventions, and Acceptance and Commitment
Therapy - highlighting their role in restoring behavioural regulation and psychological agency. Finally,
the discussion reframes behavioural addictions not as pathologies of indulgence but as dysregulated
adaptations to a hyper-rewarding world. The article concludes with a call for a nuanced clinical
response and broader cultural reckoning, acknowledging the brain’s plasticity while advocating for
environments that support intentionality, emotional nourishment, and sustainable wellbeing.
