Researchers at the University of Washington conducted in-depth interviews to learn why we compulsively check our phones. They found a series of triggers, common across age groups, that start and end habitual smartphone use.
In general, interviewees (n=39) had four common triggers for starting to compulsively use their phones:
- During unoccupied moments, like waiting for a friend to show up,
- Before or during tedious and repetitive tasks
- When in socially awkward situations
- When they anticipated getting a message or notification
The group also had common triggers that ended their compulsive phone use:
- Competing demands from the real world, like meeting up with a friend or needing to drive somewhere
- Realizing they had been on their phone for a half an hour
- Coming across content they'd already seen
Do you have these triggers for starting/ending compulsive phone use?
I almost always go on my phone during unoccupied moments....
source: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub...04/uow-poc042919.php