It is certain that some things can damage emotional and social relationships without us realizing it. But is there something ordinary that we all do that can kill any romantic relationship or even lead to depression? In fact, a psychological study concluded that more than 70% of married couples complain that mobile phones frequently interfere with their relationship.
The distraction caused by constant phone attention can easily create conflicts and disagreements among them. Here are some common examples of annoying behavior that couples have complained about: - My partner places their phone where they can see it when we are together. - My partner keeps their phone in hand when they are with me. - My partner glances at their phone while talking to me. Professor David Sepra, a co-researcher in the study, stated: "When your attention is diverted while dealing with your partner, you do not give them enough attention, which negatively affects the relationship that fundamentally relies on mutual attention."
Nevertheless, it can be extremely difficult to resist fiddling with the phone due to the way our brains work. Professor Sepra explained: "The frequent use or keeping the phone at all times is linked to very ancient units in our brains, which have been crucial for our survival since the dawn of time. This includes maintaining the ways we communicate with others at our fingertips and the love for showcasing and proving oneself as well as the ability to respond quickly."
It is noteworthy that this issue is particularly evident concerning social media networks and platforms, where we can see many people unconsciously clicking the like button on someone’s photo while their child is trying to tell them something without receiving adequate attention. However, technology is not necessarily good or bad in itself. Professor Sepra said: "Let’s move away from the question of whether social networking sites and smartphone use are good or bad in themselves. Technology is everywhere, will not disappear, and should not, for better or worse. In fact, humans are still trying to adapt to the massive social change occurring on the planet. Between 2000 and 2018, we witnessed the largest technological advancements, arguably unparalleled in any timeframe over the past century."
He added: "Now, we are interested in understanding the role of social relationships in human well-being. We can understand this from the level of what individuals do in relationships, but we can also understand it based on the level of societal changes and social forces that may push relationships toward continuity or collapse."
