Dr. Charles Chafin, an expert on attention and author of "Numb," dives into the paradox of constant digital stimulation leading to emotional numbness. He explains how overexposure to media can result in compassion fatigue, making us disengaged and overwhelmed. Chafin discusses the detrimental impact of social media, particularly Instagram, on our real-life experiences and relationships. He offers practical strategies to reclaim our attention and suggests focusing on meaningful engagement to combat feelings of disconnection in this digital age.
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Attention: Gateway to Consciousness
Attention is the pathway to consciousness, filtering all experiences.
It's a finite resource, like a spotlight focusing on one thing at a time.
insights INSIGHT
Attention's Fixed Nature
We often treat attention as infinite, but it's actually finite.
Distracted driving exemplifies this because shifting attention has cognitive costs.
insights INSIGHT
Digital Attention Economy
Digital platforms are designed to grab attention, even more so than our wallets.
They use operant conditioning and variable rewards, like social media likes, to keep us hooked.
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How the Information Age Dulls Our Senses and How We Can Get Them Back
Dr. Charles R. Chaffin
In 'Numb', Dr. Charles R. Chaffin offers a comprehensive exploration of how the information age impacts our ability to engage and connect with others. The book delves into topics such as social media, news consumption, and decision-making, providing evidence-based strategies to manage distractions and cultivate meaningful connections. It aims to empower readers to use technology as a tool for authenticity and empowerment.
The ironic thing about our digital devices, is that they promise constant stimulation . . . and yet we find they end up making us feel numb. Numb in terms of struggling to be present. Numb in feeling overloaded with information and choices. Numb in feeling like we often view even our own experiences from a third-party perspective.
My guest today, Dr. Charles Chaffin, has written a book called Numb: How the Information Age Dulls Our Senses and How We Can Get Them Back, which explores the various ways internet-induced numbness manifests itself, from FOMO to choice overload on dating apps. On the show today we focus in particular on how the news media and social media can negatively alter the way we experience life and what to do about it. We first discuss how recovering our sense of engagement with life begins with thinking about the fact that our attention is a finite resource, and being intentional about how we direct that resource. We then discuss how to deal with what Charles calls the "attention panhandlers" who vie for our engagement online. Charles talks about the phenomenon of compassion fatigue, where there are so many worthy causes you could take up, that you end up doing nothing at all. We then discuss how Instagram can change the way you experience life in an age where we can all feel like content creators. We end our conversation with how to wrest back control of your attention, and use it towards action rather than distraction.
After the show is over, check out the show notes at aom.is/numb
The Art of Manliness 