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How Technology Decreases Emotional Intelligence in Children

June 14
I would describe technology as a mechanism that impairs your child's ability to be with their thoughts and feelings and destroys their ability to adapt to others. These mechanisms include any device that distracts your children, such as remote speakers, smartphones, and laptops, that blur all their senses to the world and the people in it.
I would describe technology as a mechanism that impairs your child's ability to be with their thoughts and feelings and destroys their ability to adapt to others. These mechanisms include any device that distracts your children, such as remote speakers, smartphones, and laptops, that blur all their senses to the world and the people in it.
Recently, I watched as a family in a restaurant each stared intently at their smartphones, dinner being eaten in stark silence. Basic human interactions - thought, kindness, were completely absent between people. Worse still, parents were addicted to their phones, teaching their children this behavior as well.
 At all times, the smartphone can affect it not badly, but also in a good way, depending on its intended use. The ability to leave a stressful environment can help. For example, listening to music and taking a break. There are also apps designed to increase mindfulness and reduce anxiety through guidance meditations or relaxation exercises.

The problem is that technology is not used effectively and in a way that helps our lives. As technology addiction increases, children travel the world in a bubble free of their own thoughts and feelings and the thoughts and feelings of others. As conversational skills and positive interactions fade, technology begins to shake children's sense of humanity; they are less compassionate and have a harder time understanding others.


Daniel Goleman, in his book Emotional Intelligence (EQ), defines emotional intelligence as the ability to identify one's own feelings and those of others. They have a higher degree of Emotional Intelligence (EQ), have healthier relationships, are better attuned to the environment, and are more skilled at working towards their goals. Goleman identifies five key traits that promote emotional intelligence: self-awareness, self-regulation, social skills, empathy, and motivation.


What do all of these qualities have in common? Pay a visit to your local daycare center and you can be sure that most children do not have these traits, especially during playtime. To develop these qualities, teachers and parents try to make an effort to draw attention to others and be mindful. Thus, children develop emotional intelligence by being better adapted to the world around them and the people living in them.


Let's see how addiction to technology negatively affects the fundamentals of Emotional Intelligence (EQ):


1. Decreases Self Awareness


More time on technology means less time on your own thoughts and feelings. As technological addiction increases, children live in a state of self-alienation, stripped of their emotional selves, making it impossible to realize themselves. They become more reactive and less reflective, rather than conspicuous choices.


2. Self-regulation Weaknesses


 Studies have proven that technology addiction increases impulsively. Children who cannot develop the ability to control themselves are emotionally immature and have an increased tendency to bully.


3. Decreases social skills.


Even when kids play games with others online, such brazen relationships rarely lead to true friendships. In this way, technology addiction tends to create isolation and persistence. The more technology dominates, the less society develops.


4. It reduces empathy.


When screen time replaces family or friend, children travel the world in trance-like states and become disconnected from others. There is discontent and a lack of harmony. The basic building blocks of healthy compassion are underdeveloped.


5. Decreases motivation.


It requires motivation, drive, constant attention and a high level of tolerance to achieve personal goals in life; decreases rapidly. Like any addict, as children become more dependent, they begin to neglect themselves and their future. Watch what happens when tech-addicted kids are suddenly forced to interact with the world. They quickly become disgruntled and restless. This is because, unlike technology, it cannot control the real world or the people in it. As a result, when faced with difficult life choices, technology-dependent children may experience symptoms of anxiety or depression.


Guides for Parents


Everyone deals with this problem when technology addiction is not taken care of. After all, technology does not need to improve a child's life, but to control their life. Try to put structure and boundaries around technology use for all family members. Remember, technology should be a tool for kids – not a way of life.


Expert Psychologist Nihan OĞUZ