Why people snub their friends with their phone
Mental health conditions and certain personality traits play a role in `phubbing'

Date:
August 9, 2021
Source:
University of Georgia
Summary:
Smartphones have made multi-tasking easier, more understandable,
and at times compulsive. But in social settings, these devices
can lead to a form of contemporary rudeness called phone snubbing,
or phubbing, the act of ignoring one's companions to pay attention
to a phone.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Smartphones have made multi-tasking easier, more understandable, and
at times compulsive. But in social settings, these devices can lead
to a form of contemporary rudeness called phone snubbing, or phubbing,
the act of ignoring one's companions to pay attention to a phone.


========================================================================== While it may be commonplace, snubbing one's friends (Fphubbing) can
have serious repercussions on relationships, and there are a variety of
factors that may drive individuals to ignore their friends in favor of
an electronic screen, according to a new University of Georgia study.

The study reveals positive associations between depression and social
anxiety on increasing Fphubbing: depressed people are likely to phub their friends more frequently, and socially anxious people, who might prefer
online social interactions to face-to-face communication, might also
exhibit more phubbing behavior. Personality traits such as neuroticism
also influence phubbing behavior.

"And of course, some people who have high social anxiety or depression are
more likely to be addicted to their smartphone," said Juhyung Sun, lead
author on the paper who completed her master's degree in communication
studies at UGA.

The very ordinariness of phubbing suggests some fundamental insights
about how technology interrupts social interactions -- and how quickly
they are accepted, if not embraced.

"I observed that so many people use their phones while they are sitting
with their friends at the cafe, any dining time, regardless of the
relationship type," said Sun, currently a doctoral candidate at the
University of Oklahoma.



==========================================================================
She first considered some negative reasons behind phubbing -- smart phone addiction and relatedly, the habit of constantly reading notifications
that pop up onscreen.

"People are really sensitive to their notifications. With each buzz or
sound, we consciously or unconsciously look at our phones," she said,
noting that the device's wide utility across applications -- from weather
to breaking news, are key drivers fostering this dynamic.

A third significant finding in the study revealed that agreeable
individuals have a lower instance of phubbing in the presence of their
friends. People who have agreeableness as a personality trait tend to
show cooperative, polite and friendly behaviors in their interpersonal relationships and social settings, Sun said.

"They have a high tendency to maintain social harmony while avoiding
arguments that can ruin their relationships.," she said. "In face-to-face conversations, people with high levels of agreeableness consider phubbing behavior rude and impolite to their conversational partners." And though agreeable people may prioritize strong friendships, an exploratory
study by the researchers revealed phubbing also to be more likely in
the presence of three or more people.



==========================================================================
That dynamic may influence the prevalence of phubbing in the context of
a work environment "It's ironic that while so many people believe that
phubbing behavior is rude, they still do it," Sun said. "A majority of
people phub others, and in a group, it may seem OK, because it's just me,
the speaker doesn't notice I'm using the phone. The number of a people
in a group can be one reason." Alternately, disabling or turning over
a phone can indicate a show of respect for a situation and focus on
a person.

"That, too, is a signal -- I am listening to what you are saying, this
meeting is important and I am focusing on you," Sun said.

Jennifer Samp, professor in the UGA Franklin College of Arts and Sciences department communication studies and Sun's advisor on the project,
believes that the act of Fphubbing may have even greater implications
once the larger public returns to face-to-face interactions after the
pandemic subsides.

"People relied heavily on phones and other technologies to stay
connected during the pandemic," Samp said. "For many, staying connected
in a more distanced manner via texts and video messaging was more
comfortable than face- to-face interaction. Will people -- particularly
anxious ones -- still phubb when physically reunited? Time will tell." ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Georgia. Original
written by Alan Flurry.

Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Juhyung Sun, Jennifer A. Samp. `Phubbing is happening to you':
examining
predictors and effects of phubbing behaviour in
friendships. Behaviour & Information Technology, 2021; 1 DOI:
10.1080/0144929X.2021.1943711 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210809105911.htm

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