CLINICAL
ISSUES
Psycho-educational interventions for therapeutic settings: Addressing neuro-psycho-somatic mechanisms in internet and social media use
Psycho-education in therapeutic settings aims to help individuals understand the unconscious mechanisms shaping their interactions with the digital world. Internet and social media use is not just a behavioral issue; it is deeply intertwined with neuro-psycho-somatic processes that condition perception, cognition, and emotional regulation. Research has demonstrated that digital environments exploit brain functions to maximize engagement, often at the expense of psychological well-being (Montag et al., 2019; Orben et al., 2019).
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Neuroscientific studies reveal that prolonged social media use alters neural pathways, particularly in the reward system. A study by Montag et al. (2019) highlights how social media platforms manipulate dopamine-driven reinforcement mechanisms, fostering compulsive behaviors akin to substance addiction. The same study notes that frequent digital engagement reshapes neural plasticity, particularly in the prefrontal cortex, impacting attention regulation and impulse control.
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Stress research indicates that excessive online exposure contributes to dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, increasing cortisol levels (He et al., 2017). Chronic stress resulting from digital hyper-stimulation weakens immune function, leading to heightened susceptibility to inflammation, fatigue, and cognitive impairment (McEwen, 2017). These findings align with broader research in psychoneuroimmunology, which links prolonged stress exposure to systemic inflammation and neurobiological decline.
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Autistic Sensitization of Western Individual and the War against the Self
This work explores the profound impact of cybercapitalism on human behavior, emotional regulation, and societal norms, arguing that the pervasive digital environment fosters hypersensitivity akin to autistic traits, such as heightened emotional reactivity, hyperfocus, and social navigation challenges. Unlike the neurodevelopmental origins of autism spectrum conditions, this hypersensitivity emerges from the external pressures of algorithmic manipulation, performance-driven metrics, and hyper-individualistic ideologies inherent in cybercapitalist systems. By examining these dynamics, the work situates the commodification of emotional reactivity as a central mechanism driving cycles of consumption, burnout, and self-alienation.
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The paths followed in this exploration are diverse and interconnected. First, it draws on interdisciplinary perspectives, including neurobiology, psychology, and cultural analysis, to unpack the mechanisms underlying this hypersensitivity. Second, it integrates critiques from thinkers such as Laurent Alexandre and Christopher Wylie, who highlight how technological systems intentionally cultivate traits that sustain engagement and profitability. Third, it leverages metaphors such as Poenaru’s depiction of the West as an autoimmune disease to frame the psycho-immunological dynamics of self-fragmentation. Finally, the work proposes actionable alternatives, advocating for a shift from the self-centered values perpetuated by cybercapitalism toward solidarity, collective care, and the ethical design of digital platforms.
Alienation: the Impossible Elaboration
Despite the potential omnipresence of (economic) alienation in contemporary cyber-capitalist societies, the concept is still repressed within the disciplines of psychology, psychiatry, and psychopathological theorizing. Two interpretations could shed light on this massive political and ideological repression, potentially harmful to the mental health of populations. The first would start from the assumption that Western propaganda, culture, and politics have been working tirelessly for decades to obliterate Marxist ideas associated with the red peril (communism), academic stigmatization, and intellectual obsolescence. The ideology of progress, innovation, and the well-being of Western societies has contributed to the minimization of history and critique. Thus, intellectuals and clinicians have themselves succumbed, consciously or unconsciously, to this ideology.
The neurotic-borderline-capitalist agenda
Welcome The "neurotic-borderline-capitalist agenda" can be understood as a systematic effort by cybercapitalism to shape individuals who are divided between neurosis and borderline structures. This dual structuring creates subjects who are simultaneously productive and pathologically dependent—"sufficiently normal" to function as workers and "sufficiently pathological" to drive consumption. This dynamic reflects a calculated strategy to optimize economic utility, ensuring individuals remain trapped within the cycles of production and consumption.
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