There are some common features that attract addicts to online auctions according to Young. At the addiction site Young has a self-test for online auction users. The thrill and excitement aspects of auctions are especially important factors to Young. Winning an item at eBay, for example, allows the user to feel a sense of accomplishment, power and excitement that isn't always associated with the average shopping experience. The majority of auction users are able to participate without becoming addicts.
Teenagers tend to be risk takers, but people that go gambling are definitely the same kind.
Or they can be depressed, or isolated. Even though the computer is the connection to their problem, Orzack doesn't advocate eliminating it from their lives. That doesn't make sense in this day and age. You can't tell people that they can't use a computer because it's used for everything. And our global economy is dependent on it.