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Phubbing and Social Intelligence: Role-Playing Experiment on Bystander Inaccessibility
Eerik Mantere1,2, Nina Savela1, Atte Oksanen1
1Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, 33014 Tampere, Finland.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
|October 13, 2021
Summary
Phubbing, or phone snubbing, is more annoying than reading a magazine and is linked to lower social intelligence. People perceive smartphones as more distracting than magazines in social interactions.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Communication Studies
Background:
- Smartphone use has significantly altered social interaction patterns.
- Phubbing (phone snubbing) is a prevalent behavior where individuals prioritize their phones over face-to-face interaction.
- Understanding the social implications of phubbing is crucial in contemporary communication.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between phubbing behavior and social intelligence.
- To compare the level of annoyance caused by phubbing versus being ignored due to reading a magazine.
- To explore differing perceptions of smartphones and magazines as sources of social distraction.
Main Methods:
- Two survey samples (N=112, N=108) participated in a cartoon-based role-playing experiment (Bystander Inaccessibility Experiment).
- Participants rated annoyance levels when ignored by a smartphone user versus a magazine reader.
- Validated scales measured phubbing, being phubbed, and social intelligence; qualitative data explored reasons for annoyance.
Main Results:
- Phubbing elicited significantly higher annoyance than being ignored while reading a magazine.
- Phubbing was consistently associated with lower social intelligence, even after controlling for confounding variables.
- Negative attitudes towards smartphones, perceived as tools for "useless endeavors," explained the greater annoyance compared to magazines, which were viewed more favorably.
Conclusions:
- Phubbing represents a distinct and more irritating social distraction than traditional distractions like reading.
- Individuals exhibiting phubbing tendencies may possess lower social intelligence.
- Perceptions of technology, particularly smartphones, influence their impact on social interactions and perceived annoyance.
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