How Our Screens Make Us Less Happy with Professor Adam Alter | Feel Better Live More Podcast
Вставка
- Опубліковано 16 лис 2020
- Do you find it hard to resist the ping of a new email, the urge to scroll on social media, or watch the next episode when streaming? Do you wish you could stop checking, clicking, liking and sharing? Then put down your phone and listen to this episode.
My guest today is Adam Alter, an associate professor of marketing and psychology, bestselling author of ‘Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and The Business of Keeping Us Hooked’ and an expert on the compulsive nature of technology. Adam has appeared on global platforms such as Joe Rogan and in this conversation, Adam explains how tech companies make it their business to know exactly how to keep us engaged for hours on end. He shares some of the hooks embedded in products to ‘catch’ us, such as variable reinforcement (those likes and shares on social media), goals and rewards, and a lack of stopping cues (there’s always another video cued up, another game level to play…). And how do they know all these techniques work? Big data. They simply look at what makes us click.
Tech giants prey on our capacity for ‘behavioural addiction’, which like other addictions can undermine our mental health and relationships. Playing with a phone is not just trivial distraction it can have real consequences, especially for our children - something that as a parent really concerns me. Adam suggests we should be teaching our kids ‘digital hygiene’ in schools and I couldn’t agree more.
Of course, there are many positive uses of tech, like education, admin, communicating with loved ones we can’t see in person. But when screen time starts to harm our wellbeing, Adam says we need to look at what psychological needs it’s meeting. What’s lacking in our lives that leads us to numb the discomfort by picking up that phone or tablet?
But it’s not all doom and gloom. Adam says, it is possible to live a rich, meaningful, healthy life in our tech-driven age. And we discuss some of the solutions we’re both using to wean ourselves and our families off screens. We agree it’s about intention, using tech where we need and enjoy it, but making a conscious decision to do without it at other times. Starting with an hour or two a day when you put your phone out of sight is a great example.
If, like me, you’ve recently watched The Social Dilemma, Netflix’s fascinating (and scary) take on persuasive technologies and surveillance capitalism, I think you’ll really appreciate Adam’s insights - and his reassurance that tech addiction is not a human failing.
Show notes available at drchatterjee.com/132
Connect with Adam:
Website adamalterauthor.com
Twitter / adamleealter
Adam’s books:
Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and The Business of Keeping Us Hooked amzn.to/3nsF0Ba
Drunk Tank Pink: Subconscious forces that shape how we think, feel and behave amzn.to/32Q7T2u
Adam’s TED talk:
Why Our Screens Make Us Less Happy
www.ted.com/talks/adam_alter_...
Related Feel Better Live More podcast episodes:
50 How Social Media Could Be Making You Ill with Cal Newport • How Social Media Could...
120 How To Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life with Nir Eyal • How To Control Your At...
#thesocialdilemma #socialmedia #feelbetterlivemore
----
Feel Great Lose Weight is now available to pre-order in the UK amzn.to/2W6bsOE and in the US & Canada amzn.to/2GWPgls
Dr Chatterjee’s book Feel Better in 5 is out now in the UK amzn.to/2G0XK7l and in the US and Canada amzn.to/2EB2oM0
Order Dr Chatterjee’s book The Stress Solution amzn.to/2MZ8u8h
Find Dr Chatterjee’s 4 Pillars of Health in The 4 Pillar Plan available via amzn.to/2yGfpuB
The US version, How to Make Disease Disappear is available via amzn.to/2Gj1YEL
-----
Listen to all previous podcast episodes on drchatterjee.com/podcast or via these podcast platforms by searching for 'Feel Better, Live More'.
Apple Podcasts - podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
Acast - www.acast.com/feelbetterlivemore
Stitcher - www.stitcher.com/podcast/feel...
Spotify - open.spotify.com/show/6NyPQfc...
-----
Follow Dr Chatterjee at:
Website: drchatterjee.com/
Facebook: / drchatterjee
Twitter: / drchatterjeeuk
Instagram: / drchatterjee
DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.
Listening for the second time to this interview and what bliss to hear your insights! A big thanks to you both and congratulations on your work to bring awareness to our communities :)
Thought provoking insightful conversation - Thank you!
Highly heartening how you helped the young bloke self-harming many moons ago. 🙏
Thank you so much for this interview! I am a mother of a 7 month old girl and I already hide my smartphone from her! It’s scaring me when I see little children glued to the screen, watching cartoons and games instead of discovering world that is around us. I would love to know how the experiment with the phone will pan out.
Thanks for sharing!
Porn. I really miss that topic. Porn is 1 of the biggest risks out there, i would even say the biggest. From dopamine to unhealthy sexual expectations, to objectification, to more reasons off bad relationships, to the creation of solo-sexuals, and i can keep going.
Porn is, as far as i can find, by far the biggest programmer. And also the least favorite topic for people to talk about. Especially now kids get sexually active so much quicker because of it. 10-11 year being sexual active is more a rule than a exception at this point.
I honestly think, without addressing porn and the access mobile devices give to it, is hurtful to this conversation.
Do appreciate the effort, normally dont find the need to give feedback like this. Sorry if it sounds a bit harsh but its such a big miss, really would love to see a 2.0 with porn-related topic included.
For a couple of years now, the porn sites have been pushing insest on me. For what purpose? And now that seems to be *most* of the porn.
@@Joshua-gu5nj I feel you man. I had the same experience with cuckold/BBC. I have no idea why the more (for lack of a better term) kink stuff gets pushed. Understand that it can be a relieve for some, but it can also brainwash. As it did for me for a long time. And i still have trouble with it.
Love these discussions. I’ve been off instagram and fb since feb this year, don’t miss it at all. Still have Facebook messenger to keep in contact with people but that’s all. I don’t go on my phone first in the morning give myself an hour or so and the same applies to my 13 year son, he also has to come off his phone at 8pm giving him 2 hours no phone before sleep. It’s the way you tackle the subject with kids that makes it work but also the same thing should apply to us as parents. Weekends I am relaxed about it but come Sunday it’s back to routine. My son came to me and said he feels much better when he doesn’t go on his phone first thing in the morning and last thing at night. Thanks for all your podcasts, really insightful, listen to them on my drive to work.
Loving this discussion. So relevant right now in the world we are living.
Thanks Catherine! Appreciate the feedback
I decide to get off social media Facebook/Instagram for an entire year and a couple weeks in I feel like a whole different person
Amazing to hear. What changes have you experienced?
@@DrChatterjeeRangan So not only did I get off social media I decided to also eat in a 2 hour time window so I'm fasting 22 hours a day. Also I decide to spend the first hour of my day in silent meditation. Its hard to out into words but I feel like a completely new human being I've lost weight and just yesterday a man cussed me out while I was working at Costco(I push carts). The me prior to meditation and time restricted eating would have likely have screamed back in anger butI I noticed I kept my calm and put myself in his situation and thought maybe he is having the worst day of his life...he came and apologized after shopping and we shook hands. So.in short I feel lighter, much more aware and a compassionate human. I have so much gratitude for four podcast! Thank you so much.
Also I feel so much peace of mind being off social.media and away from all the fear mongering.
Great. I'd add to school education, communication and listening too.
Thanks Charlie. Appreciate your comment
Indeed, in our current very-digital era, it is essential to be mindful of phone addiction because excessive phone use can harm one's mental health and interpersonal connections, underscoring the need for moderation in one's use of technology.
Thank you for what you do Dr. Chatterjee. Just some feedback: I believe the sound mixing is a little off lately, you're a bit quieter than your guests and the volume seems to vary between the different cameras in your studio. Occasionally I need to adjust the volume on my side. Thanks for reading.
Thanks for the feedback. I will talk to the sound engineers and see if there is anything we can do to improve this.
excellent discussion as always
Thanks Sam. Appreciate you watching and taking time to comment!
The idea of putting your phone away from your bed is sth I've heard in many podcasts. And each time listening to it I was reluctant: I have my alarm on it, I have an app-blocker app, I am good with my night time routine...but you know what? Sometimes I am not. And on these days, having my phone in a drawer on the other side of the room would be very beneficial for my sleep. Thus, this will be the podcast which motivated me to finally change this habit and make my phone less accessible around bedtime. Keep your fingers crosses!
.
Other than that, another fantastic conversation. Thank you for always providing us with so much wisdom and inspiration!
Sending you and your family all the love! Have a nice end of the week!
Suggesting to watch another video after this is kind of ironic ... but thanks for having Adam Alter on your podcast...it is a smart move to bring awareness to this situation. Someone needs to address the “ Porn issue” , because young men won’t bring it up...some people would agreed that it’s destroying part of their life ... and considering we are putting so much emphasis on “ female “ these last 10 years and how everything is about women, and how we can motivate women and encourage women ...the other gender, male, has been vilified. Sadly, some young men can’t found any positive identity about themselves anymore....there are a lot more suicide of young men and that has to stop ! :( Young men have so much to bring to our world, I hope they can reach out into their own self and to others and see how great a life they can have . :)
Thanks you for sharing. Will try and cover this on a conversation on the podcast soon
@@DrChatterjeeRangan Thank you ;)
It’s a very needed lesson plan taught universally at schools of all ages in schools. I completely agree with the professor on this great topic. Thank you both for this very needed subject. I have my own 17 year old son who is so much lost in technology playing video games. I struggle as to how to make him realize that he is losing his life to this gaming world. I wish these gaming technology companies won’t make our young children addicted to this gaming world, glued to the devices all day long now that school is online due to the pandemic. Technology companies should realize what they are doing to our young generation.
Thanks for sharing your views. I will try and do more conversations on this topic.
I agree with what is being said in the video and I am trying to use tech less however this kinda reminds me of the whole fat shaming, obesity issue in America for example. So many people wrote books, diet pills, gym memberships. The weight loss industry is worth billions but many people are just getting fatter. Is this just another thing, of here is an issue, we have no solution but I have a book to make money....
I'm excited to learn!
Thanks Ed. Hope you enjoy this episode!
I've been binge reading on books and watching videos on UA-cam for about a week now about peak performance, neuroscience, inflammation, immunity, breathing, etc. This morning (my time) your TedX talk appeared in my UA-cam, the title was so enticing so I watched it. I just finished watching your interview with Dr. Jenna Macciochi, and currently I'm halfway through your interview with Jay Shetty. Thanks so much for your advocacy to promote real healthy living. You are a gift to humanity.
@@edgaragustinybella681 Thanks so much Ed for your kind words.
Now that I think about it, I would have rather had a broken finger than a broken Game Boy. Interesting.
Yes, that part was super interesting!
What an absolutely horrible thing to tell people. A world where devices are a part of our world, telling people they are UNHAPPY with them. Man, with 69K subs, maybe try to NOT contribute to the SHAME of technology. Good for clicks, bad for humans.