There is no question that the modern world consists of a lot of beautiful things that help us in many ways. That is because it has the basics of technology and innovation. Some industries supply food, cars that support transportation, and smart devices that provide communication and convenience. The truth is, there is nothing much we can complain. However, what a lot of us pretty much do not seem to pay attention is the modern world’s powerful gear to cause mental illness. There are high levels of anxiety and low-levels of depression for that matter.
The Features Of Technological Modernity
According to UA Huntsville psychologist Pavica Sheldon, ““They live their lives immersed in technology, surrounded by cell phones, computers, videogames, digital music players and video cams,” Sheldon said. “We need to understand not just how they use these new tools, but how they are affected by them. Topics such as cyber bullying, addiction to cyber porn, and overall addiction to Internet games are something we need to study more.” We all can agree that there is no way anyone of us can stop modernization. That is why, instead of not wanting it, we tend to embrace and appreciate it. That is, regardless of its psychological, disturbing effects. However, the features of modernity seem pretty much unstable. Yes, each one of them has a potential cure. But we can only collectively put it into action once we get to know more about the psychological condition.
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Meritocracy – Society proves that those individuals with more money, talents, and guts, control the world. However, the downside of this liberating idea depends on a person perceived as incapable. If an individual cannot sustain its contribution to the growth of the world, then he gets considered an invalid piece due to his lack of talent and laziness. But this one’s a bit indefinite because we can all rely on two different ideas – luck and tragedy.
Individualism – Individualism functions very well in a technological society. It is where everyone is capable of achieving everything because they are capable of controlling things in a click away. For this case, it is not the community that matters, but rather the mental and emotional strength of someone who is focused and determined. Everything about this whole ideology disregards great and ordinary life because modernity becomes way better.
“As adults, we have leveraged technology to accomplish amazing things in our lives: we do our work, manage our social lives, consume news and entertainment, even make new purchases for the holidays, all with the push of virtual buttons. Despite being cognitively mature, emotionally resilient and capable of delaying gratification, we struggle to set limits on our own usage.” –Jyothsna Bhat, PsyD
Secularism – A technologically dependent secular society sees to believe anything that is beyond understanding. Usually, it uses to perform religious service to keep distance on people’s petty ways and status battle in perspective. Not that it isn’t a good choice. But its adaptation on the modern world can somehow generate a false view of an individual’s emotional, physical, mental needs. Come to think of it. There are pornography and obscurity that seems to hide in it.
Romanticism – Romanticism tells us that individuals feel satisfied and happy together when they settle for a moderate relationship. But you see, along with the damages of social media, handling relationship can become quite tricky. There is a disaster that can destroy any strong bond due to unfettered access to everything. Well, there might be a comparison of old and new things, but it doesn’t guarantee assurance.
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Media – Perhaps it is one of the most significant representations of modernity. However, it creates a psychological imbalance due to its ability to redirect our attention to damaging things that enrage, worry, and scare us. It denies the urgency of getting any chance of effective personal, emotional, and mental action. It favors the least sides of human’s life without the consideration of balancing function with people’s struggle in a technological world.
“Technology conditions the brain to pay attention to information very differently than reading.” Jim Taylor Ph.D. said. So to answer the question if the modern world is making us ill, it is a YES!
Feeling anxious? Is the world too loud? Does no one understand? I have the perfect app for you. BetterHelp is an app that provides mental health counseling and it provides you with a better understanding of what you’re going through. You can download the app on IOS and Android!