Smartphones and Close Relationships: The Case for an Evolutionary Mismatch

Area of Science:

• Evolutionary Psychology
• Social Psychology
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Human social behaviors, such as self-disclosure and responsiveness, evolved for small kin networks to foster bonds, trust, and cooperation.
• Attachment theory explains how these evolved bonding mechanisms contribute to reproductive and inclusive fitness.
• Evolutionary mismatches occur when modern environments trigger ancestral adaptations in ways that reduce their adaptive benefits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose an evolutionary mismatch between smartphone use and evolved social behaviors crucial for close relationships.
• To explore how smartphones may undermine interpersonal interactions by activating needs for self-disclosure and responsiveness in virtual contexts.
• To introduce and review the concept of technoference, defined as smartphone interference in social interactions.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis of evolutionary psychology and attachment theory in relation to modern technology.
• Review of emerging evidence on technoference and its impact on interpersonal dynamics.
• Outline of an empirical agenda for future research.

Main Results:

• Smartphones, while beneficial, can exploit evolved needs for social connection across vast networks.
• This can lead to a mismatch where technology interferes with, rather than facilitates, immediate, close social bonding.
• Emerging evidence suggests smartphone use, or "technoference," intrudes upon and potentially degrades face-to-face interactions.

Conclusions:

• An evolutionary mismatch exists between smartphone affordances and evolved social bonding mechanisms.
• Smartphone use has the potential to undermine intimacy and close relationships through technoference.
• Further integrated research is needed to understand the complex interplay between smartphones, intimacy, and relationship maintenance.