Understanding Nomophobia: The Role of the Internet as an Extension of Virtual Capacity

When individuals are unable to access smartphone, they experience anxiety, leading to the phenomenon known as nomophobia in previous study. To explain this phenomenon, this study assumes that it is essential to explore the relationship between humans and the Internet. From this perspective, this study elucidates nomophobia through the lens of the Internet Extension of Virtual Capacity concept, which refers to how individuals extend the Internet as part of their own capabilities, unrestricted by specific devices. In Study 1, a Virtual Capability Extension Scale was developed, comprising four dimensions: intrusiveness, accessibility, functionality, and autonomy. The scale demonstrated a high internal consistency and validity. Study 2 employed a behavioral experiment using a two-group (based on device type) and three-phase (involving the presence or absence of the device) single-factor design to investigate where self-extension manifests and its underlying content. Results indicated: 1) The object of self-extension, and the primary cause of nomophobia, is the Internet rather than specific devices such as smartphones; 2) Internet Extension of Virtual Capacity serves as a precursor to nomophobia; 3) The Internet significantly extends individuals' sense of self-efficacy, more than it impacts their broader sense of self. Future research should further explore and apply the Internet Extension of Virtual Capacity, also considering people's ambivalent attitudes of both love and hate towards Internet.