Cell Phones: The Psychological Upsides and Downsides

538 Words2 Pages

In 2010, there was an estimated 5.3 billion cell phone users in the world. With that many people using this technology, people began to weigh the risks and benefits. While there are many advantages of owning and using a cell phone, there are also many disadvantages. There are many reasons why people choose to use cell phones. It makes it easier to access social media sites, gives in to impulsivity, the need to belong, and boosts self-esteem. Most teenagers find cell phones critical to preserving their social lives and staying in touch (Abel 102). Cell phones are also quite useful for things like companionship, seeking information, making appointments, mobility, fashion, and immediate access. They help people feel like they belong by providing frequent social interactions, thus avoiding loneliness. There are countless benefits to having a cell phone. A few of these benefits are pleasure, escape, relaxation, inclusion, control, and affection (Jin 612). In the healthcare industry, cell phones are gaining popularity. They’re being used as a medium for clinical assessment and intervention, managing commuter stress, reducing examination anxiety, countering battlefield stress, enhancing emotional self-awareness and socially supportive behavior, and many other things. Cell phones are also used as a means to send out patient reminders about appointments, disease monitoring and management, and to provide the patient education (Sansone 33). With cell phones being so popular and so commonly used, monitoring them has become an automatic response. Self control is a limited resource, and a student’s ability to refrain from cell phone use in situations where usage is prohibited, such as the classroom, necessitates the use of self-c... ... middle of paper ... ... (2012): 101-106. Business Source Complete. Web. 6 Oct. 2013. Hofferth, Sandra L., and Ui Jeong Moon. "Cell Phone Use and Child and Adolescent Reading Proficiency." Psychology Of Popular Media Culture 1.2 (2012): 108-122. PsycARTICLES. Web. 6 Oct. 2013. Jin, Borae, and Namkee Park. "In-Person Contact Begets Calling And Texting: Interpersonal Motives For Cell Phone Use, Face-To-Face Interaction, And Loneliness." Cyberpsychology, Behavior & Social Networking 13.6 (2010): 611-618. Business Source Complete. Web. 6 Oct. 2013. Mountjoy, Paul. "Cell Phones Promote Serious Social, Psychological Issues." Washington Times Communities. 7 Apr. 2013. Web. 06 Oct. 2013. Sansone, Randy A., MD, and Lori A. Sansone, MD. "Cell Phones: The Psychosocial Risks." Innovations in Clinical Neuroscience 10 (2013): 33-35. NCBI. U.S. National Library of Medicine, Jan. 2013. Web. 06 Oct. 2013.

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