Are we saying goodbye to face-to-face interaction at Lee?
“We need more connections that are quality and nurturing to treat conditions like addiction, loneliness and depression. Nothing can be substituted for direct human interaction,” Dr. Arlie Tagayuna said.
Courtesy of Ali Yahya
Clearly, technology has shaped our culture today. While it has provided the means to advancement in many fields of life, the question remains as to whether our in-person interactions have suffered at the expense of our desire to connect to a larger audience.
Professors like Dr. Bryan Poole witness this same question at play daily in the classroom. Poole, an assistant professor of psychology, has found that there's a serious strain on students' attention spans.
“Students regularly sneak a device beneath their table or flick furiously at their smart watches, tuning out part of a lecture or neglecting an important discussion with classmates,” Poole said. “This problem has become so pervasive that scientists in my field have felt the need to conduct studies in the classroom to uncover ways to curb this distraction.”
He maintained, however, that this isn't necessarily a generational problem— professors suffer, too.
Abby Thomasson, senior psychology major, feels that psychology classes have raised her awareness of the positive and negative effects of technology on social communication. She has observed more of the negative in her learning experience.
“I have seen the increasing use of technology hinder the effectiveness of our communication. For example, many Millennials would rather confront a friend via text message or phone call rather than in person,” Thomasson said. “Technology has taught us that confrontation is much easier if we don't have to see the person.”
If not used properly, technology mediums provide space to withdraw from others. Professor of sociology Dr. Arlie Tagayuna believes it has become easy to become narcissistic and neglect engaging in meaningful relationships.
“As a teacher, I observe that students have removed themselves from substantial and evidence-based arguments,” Tagayuna said. “Ideas are formed from feelings rather than logical and critical analysis. If we continue ignoring the world and people surrounding us, then there is an element of willful ignorance on things that matter. In response, we stop caring.”
Tagayuna said he wants to see Lee students realize the necessity of face-to-face communication.
“We need more connections that are quality and nurturing to treat conditions like addiction, loneliness and depression. Nothing can be substituted for direct human interaction,” he said. “If we would like to address personal recovery, we need a social recovery. Through our social recovery, we can then pursue moral recovery.”
