Why are some people more attached to their phones than others?

Posted on March 30, 2016

Photo: flickr

Some people frequently check and re-check their mobile phones. Once this impulse is triggered, it may be more a question of not being able to leave the device alone than actually hoping to gain some reward from it. These insights are drawn from a study1 by psychologists Henry Wilmer and Jason Chein of Temple University in the US. Their findings shed light on the reasons why some people are so attached to their smartphones and mobile technology, while others are less so.

The results provide evidence that people who constantly check and use their mobile devices throughout the day are less apt to delay gratification.

"Mobile technology habits, such as frequent checking, seem to be driven most strongly by uncontrolled impulses and not by the desire to pursue rewards," says Wilmer, who adds that the findings provide correlational evidence that increased use of portable electronic devices is associated with poor impulse control and a tendency to devalue delayed rewards.


Category(s):Addictions, Inattention, Impulsivity, & Hyperactivity (ADHD)

Source material from Springer