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Remote control, umbilical cord and beyond: the mobile phone as a transitional object
1Department of Communication, University of Haifa, Mount Carmel, Haifa, Israel. rribak@research.haifa.ac.il
The British Journal of Developmental Psychology
|December 9, 2009
Summary
Mobile phones act as transitional objects, facilitating parent-teen communication. The potential for connection, rather than the content, is key for intergenerational relationships.
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Communication Studies
- Technology and Society
Background:
- Teenage mobile phone use research often overlooks family dynamics.
- Mobile phones are increasingly central to social interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate mobile phone use as a medium for intergenerational communication.
- To examine the mobile phone as a transitional object in parent-teen relationships.
Main Methods:
- Ethnographic research conducted in Israel.
- Study period: 2000-2006.
- Focus on teenagers and their mobile phone use within family contexts.
Main Results:
- Mobile phones are valued for the possibility of communication, not just the content.
- The technology mediates both distance and intimacy between parents and teenagers.
- Complex usage patterns reflect the interplay of culture, technology, and family.
Conclusions:
- Mobile phone practices are deeply embedded in specific cultural contexts.
- Understanding intergenerational communication requires considering the socio-cultural role of technology.
- Family dynamics and technological adoption mutually influence each other.
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