In our days, more than ever, discuss a possible dependence of people on technology. Technology companies have even been forced to incorporate into their software products, the special counters and limiters that would force us to think about time using smartphones. Doctors recognize the dependence of computer games, and it is difficult to imagine what will happen next. But is it seriously really?
Psychologist Christopher Ferguson believes that many of statements about the impact of technology on the human brain and the body absolutely does not deserve attention. Moreover, he is willing to destroy a few myths for us, based on his experience of working with families, adolescents, and their attitude to technology, games, and dependencies.
Technology is not a drug
Many say that the use of technology activates the same pleasure centers in the brain that drugs. Maybe so, but these same pleasure centers are activated is not necessarily something harmful. Any sport leads to an increase in the level of dopamine. This list can get delicious food, playing sport or a pleasant conversation.
Pleasant occupation increase dopamine levels by 50-100 percent. Drugs increase it to 200-350%. With this in mind, compare computer games with drugs is like comparing a drop of rain falls.
Technological dependence is not a mental illness
The world health organization added savinesti from computer games to the list of diseases. Christopher Ferguson believes that the people responsible for this decision, do not take into account the possibility that dependence on games can be a symptom of other psychological disorders.
There are a huge number of contradictions that do not allow us to consider dependence on technology independent disorder. Many doctors recognize this. In addition, people who are called dependent technology usually can get rid of their disorders easier than with mental illness. Without treatment.
Technological dependence is not caused by technology
Usually in the discussions say that people are attracted to the technology. Christopher Ferguson believes that people are starting to shift their focus on technology due to depression, anxiety and other problems. Nobody thinks people who are depressed and spend the entire day in bed, bed dependence.
With this in mind, you should pay attention to methods of treatment of technological dependence. If it is a symptom, then we must not treat her as a real illness.
Attention involves not only technology
At this point, Ferguson draws attention to the fact that people don’t take less time and other activities. For example, you can get involved with yoga or dance. It is possible to get involved so that this will become like an addiction. By the way, you can find some scientific articles about dance addiction. It is difficult to provide evidence that technology addiction is more than a dance.
The use of technology does not lead to suicide
As evidence that the world of modern technology brings us to the problem, some experts provided data about the growing number of suicides among adolescent females. Not taken into account the fact that the suicide rate increased for all age groups. Growth began in 2008 during the financial crisis. Maybe in society there is a more serious problem that is not noticed in the heat of battle with technology.
Scientists sometimes make terrible statements based on small amounts of data. With the same success we can say that the use of potatoes as food and suicide are somehow connected. This assertion can be attached, and some statistics.
Of course, problems with the use of technology can be. But many simply cannot imagine their work without computers and smartphones, enjoy a break from them then. A tiny core of truth in the discussion of problems and dependence on technology is. However, there is no reason that there has come some crisis associated with the technology.
Myths about technology and dependence
Ernest Vasilevskiy