The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos

Dial D for Distracted

Jun 1, 2020

Liz Dunn, a psychology professor at the University of British Columbia, discusses the surprising costs of smartphone distraction on happiness. She reveals how even having a phone nearby can lead to inattentional blindness, causing people to miss out on joyful moments. The conversation delves into how smartphones can dampen social experiences, ironically disconnecting us while we seek connection. Practical strategies for mindfulness and attentional hygiene are shared, emphasizing the need to rediscover meaningful interactions in a tech-saturated world.

30:13

Creator website

Episode guests

Liz Dunn

Highlights

AI Chapters

Episode notes

The Transformational Power of Mindful Phone Use

00:58

The Impact of Phone Use on Presence and Connection

01:02

Unconscious Mind Processes

00:40

Intro

3min

Inattentional Blindness: Noticing the Unseen

9min

The Hidden Costs of Distraction

5min

Smartphones and Social Disconnect

8min

The Hidden Costs of Smartphone Distraction

3min

Mindful Connections: Breaking Free from Smartphone Distraction

7min

Rediscovering Connection Through Music and Mindfulness

5min

The world is full of people and things that can make you happy, but you have to notice them to get the full effect. Smartphones are technological marvels, but the hold they have over our limited attention is causing us to miss out on more than we realize.

Dr Laurie Santos finds that even having a phone nearby can reduce how happy you feel. Laurie chats with Catherine Price, a science journalist, founder of ScreenLifeBalance.com and author of How to Break Up With Your Phone.

For an even deeper dive into the research we talk about in the show visit happinesslab.fm or visit screenlifebalance.com, the website for guest Catherine Price.

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