Technophobia
WHAT IS TECHNOPHOBIA?
As technology becomes increasingly prevalent in our society, the fear generated by new technologies grows amongst us. More than half of all people in the country are technophobes. So what is the dreaded Technophobia?
Technophobia is the term used to describe any feelings of fear, discomfort, or anxiety towards one or more forms of technology.
It is an acknowledged medical condition because it affects people mentally and physically.
Technophobic individuals would like to avoid all technology if possible.
When approached with technology, those who suffer with Technophobia experience mild to severe anxiety, frustration, and self-doubt.
TYPES OF TECHNOPHOBIA
There are two forms of Technophobia:
Cognitive and
Anxious.
The cognitive technophobe is the most common. Those who experience cognitive technophobia often frustrate and scare themselves internally when they have to use technology or even imagine using it. They think negatively about technology, saying things to themselves like, "If I push the wrong button, the machine will break," or "I'm stupid and everybody knows this but me." They continually play out severely pessimistic dialogues in their minds.
Although cognitive technophobes are the most prevalent, they are also the most difficult to diagnose. These individuals believe that they are the only ones that feel anxious toward technology. Therefore, it is harder for them to overcome their fear of technology because they are unwilling to admit their problem.
Typically, cognitive technophobes are affected only mentally by technophobia. Whereas, anxious technophobes have a more physical reaction to technology. This group of technophobes experiences anxiety symptoms such as tension, sweaty palms, heart palpitations, and queasy stomachs when placed in situations where they must deal with technology.
There is another small group of technophobes who experience both the mental and physical symptoms of cognitive and anxious technophobia.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND TECHNOLOGY?
Technophobia is a fear, which must be overcome because in modern society technology can not be avoided. It's no longer a question of being left behind by technology, but being taken over by it. Technology influences every aspect of our world including relationships, medicine, the environment, music, education, sports, and so on. Unless an individual is willing to isolate him or herself from the rest of the world, technophobia has to be cured. In a society interlocked with technology, technophobic individuals will not be able to function effectively as his / her success will depend on the ability to operate in a technological society.
Technology -- such as computers, fax machines, and telephones -- is critical to most job responsibilities in the corporate world. Not being able to cope with technology can leave an individual behind in his or her career.
Not only does technology control our ability to function in the corporate world but it also influences our education. Technophobia can be an obstacle to using technology in the classroom to improve learning. When presented with new technology, the technophobes close their minds to it because of their fear. Technophobia can also prevent college students from choosing classes that require the use of technology. A technophobic student would not be able to take classes where they have to use computers, the Internet, etc. With the growing use of technology in classrooms, technophobic students will not be able to learn well or succeed in academics.
HOW CAN TECHNOPHOBIA BE CURED?
The good news about technophobia is that it is easy to cure. First, the fear must be taken out of technophobia. Technophobes must remember that the "machine will not break" and that they are not capable of destroying the machine with the touch of one button. Second, technophobes should avoid complex terminology. Technological language only makes it more difficult for the average user to learn to use technology. It is better to ask others or consult glossaries or indexes when help is needed.
Technophobes should learn to use computers to save time and money. The more that technology is used regularly, the easier it is to let go of the fear of it. Using computers at work and at home will only make your life easier. Most importantly, technophobes should try to keep the pressure off themselves when using technology. Making mistakes are a part of the learning process. Technophobes should recognize that all of technology has problems and it's not their fault. With time, technophobia will diminish.
posted by Quincy @ 3:19 p.m.
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