Controversy is one of the essential aspects of any scientific research because researchers are not likely to come up with the same findings on the same issue. Nonetheless, controversies are important because they lead to further in-depth research that can result in a conclusive finding on a given phenomenon. Electronic technologies have become an inevitable part of human life. The number of people who are using electronic technologies such as mobile phones, video games, and social media has increased significantly. As a result, technology has changed individual behaviors and interactions with one another substantially ( Kim, 2016) . Hence, psychologists have conducted several studies to determine the impact of electronic technologies on the behaviors and well-being of individuals.
Thus, the controversy in psychology focuses on the use of electronic technology and well-being. Specifically, the controversy explores the positive and negative impact or effects of electronic technologies. On one hand, according to Magsamen-Conrad, Billotte-Verhoff & Greene (2014), studies have shown that electronic technologies do not only improve individual well-being but also learning, especially among students with mental or behavioral problems. On the other hand, electronic technologies are linked to addiction, which may result in many problems that affect the psychological and physical well-being of persons. Many people associate the extensive use of electronic technologies to the surging cases of behavioral and physiological problems, particularly among people. Conversely, some psychologists have maintained that electronic technologies offer solutions to some of the behavioral and psychological challenges in life. Hence, it is essential to use a systematic literature review to explore the controversy.
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Benefits of Using Electronic Technology on Wellbeing
Many scholarly studies have revealed that electronic technologies are linked to many benefits because they improve human health while at the same time, they enhance educational performance. Kim (2016) argues that w ith the introduction of electronic technology and the internet, the physical and social interactions between individuals have reduced immensely. The use of electronic technology can help in addressing the problem by increasing social capital. Besides, the technologies can be used in hospitals to improve the health of patients. Also, electronic technologies have made learning effective and accessible to even people with physical and psychological challenges. Many research studies confirm the benefits of electronic technologies on human well-being.
Electronic technologies increase human interaction, leading to improved social capital. Magsamen-Conrad, Billotte-Verhoff & Greene (2014) researched the form of a systematic literature review to determine how technology addiction affects mental well-being and how it positively impacts social capital. The findings of the study reveal that the use of electronic technologies like mobile phones in combination with the internet increase social interaction significantly ( Magsamen-Conrad, Billotte-Verhoff & Greene, 2014) . The technologies create a favorable environment for social and interpersonal interaction, which end up enhancing social relationships. Improved relationship leads to the development of social capital, which is beneficial to people who are hesitant to share their issues through face-to-face interactions. As a result, electronic technologies are essential to self-concealing individuals, as they help them to open up to other people. Besides, electronic technologies like cell phones enhance the social capital of introverts because they are used are mediated means of communication between individuals. Therefore, electronic technologies improve the interpersonal communication of individuals, especially among self-concealing persons and introverts.
Electronic technologies also enhance brain stimulation, particularly in people with psychological or mental problems. Yang et al. (2012) used a cross-sectional research design to explore how electronic screen affects the mental well-being of children, especially those aged between 10 and 12 years. The technologies are not only being used in brain stimulation, but they are also helpful in electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) (Yang et al., 2012). Specifically, many hospitals are now using virtual reality (VR) devices to elicit sensory stimulation among patients with psychological and emotional issues. VR technology is used to generate reflexive responses (Yang et al., 2012). As a result, technology is increasingly being used to positive emotions and experiences that enhance the well-being of the people, primarily those undergoing stress and anxiety. Also, VR can be used to improve the mood of people who are undergoing psychological challenges. Electronic technologies live VR devices, therefore, enhance brain stimulation, resulting in improved well-being.
According to the qualitative stud that was done by Warren (2016), electronic technologies play a critical role in the modern education sector. Warren (2016) argues that the main challenge facing the education sector is how to effectively encourage and engage learners, especially in the modern era, that is characterized by electronic technologies such as laptops or computers and smartphones. However, the same technologies can be used to enhance teaching in the classroom by improving classroom activities, methods of evaluation, and enhancing teacher-student engagement or interaction. Warren (2016) concluded that electronic technology could improve engagement in the education sector significantly, mainly when they are correctly and effectively used to achieve the set learning objectives. Besides, the technologies help students to engage in critical thinking while connecting with various themes. Besides, electronic technologies improve self-learning among students, resulting in improved academic performance.
Also, Fenwick & Edwards (2015) conducted a systematic literature review to determine how digital technologies impact professional roles and responsibilities, especially in the education sector. According to the findings of the study, the combination of digital technology and data analytics significantly impact professional practice at both individual and organizational levels, as well as national and international levels (Fenwick & Edwards, 2015). Importantly, digital technologies are shaping the relationship between professionals themselves and their clients, and they improve the decision-making process. Fenwick & Edwards (2015) concluded that digital technologies impact the education sector substantially, and both teachers and learners should embrace them.
Based on the findings of various studies, electronic technologies are highly beneficial to people. Humans are social beings as they need to interact with others. Electronic technologies enhance social interaction by increasing social capital. At the same time, technologies like VR can create positive moods and experiences, especially among people with psychological problems like depression and anxiety. Still, technologies are beneficial to the education sector. Therefore, scholarly studies confirm that electronic technologies improved well-being.
Dangers of Electronic Technologies on Wellbeing
Technology addiction is one of the main concerns raised against electronic technologies. Kim (2016) relied on data from the Korean Youth Panel Survey (KYPS) to study how social networks affect the psychological well-being of adolescents. KYPS was a longitudinal study that was funded by the Korean government. According to Kim (2016), technology addiction is common in developed countries like the USA. It is estimated that about 93% of American teens use social media regularly while 73% are actively engaged in social network sites (SNS) (Kim, 2016). Technology addiction has both short-term and long-term impacts on young people. Children who are addicted to violent video games, for instance, are likely to develop aggressive behaviors and thoughts. Adolescents who are addicted to violent video games always have anti-social attitudes, while at the same time, they and aggressive tendencies that can result in violence (Kim, 2016).
Kim (2016) also link electronic technologies to the increasing rate of bullying in schools. Teens who are actively involved in online communication are likely to be perpetrators of bullying. Also, teens who spend much time on online sites are always the victims of cyberbullying. Therefore, based on the findings of the study, Kim (2016) concluded that there is an inverse relationship between online activities and the mental health of adolescents due to the development of aggressive behaviors and suicidal thoughts, especially among victims of cyberbullying. Electronic technologies increase the mental health risks of adolescents, and they can lead to other detrimental effects like depression and stress, including loneliness and drug abuse.
Kushlev (2018) reviewed various scholarly articles and journals to explore the cost and benefits of media technology, especially concerning well-being. Although media technology has many benefits, the researcher found that it also has a harmful impact on the well-being of individuals. First, Kushlev (2018) found that media technology can adversely affect the ability of children to pay attention, especially at a later time in their life. Specifically, the study reveals that children who are addicted to video games can have downstream attention problems. Also, based on the findings, learners who are addicted to video games have disruptive behaviors in the classroom, which may end up affecting their academic performance (Kushlev, 2018). Consequently, the analysis of the literature review showed that students who regularly use mobile phones often have poor academic performance while they suffer from a lot of anxiety. The researcher concluded that children should be trained to use media technology responsibly.
Therefore, according to Kushlev (2018), technology addition is one of the major problems linked to electronic technology, especially among adolescents and young people. Technology addiction leads to aggressive and anti-social behaviors, such as bullying. Besides, children who frequently use electronic media have the problem of paying attention, resulting in poor academic performance. Electronic technologies, therefore, are linked to some of the behavioral problems facing many young people across the globe.
Conclusion
The critical analysis of both sides of the debate reveals that the controversy surrounding the use of electronic technology and well-being is not likely to end soon because researchers have consistently come up with conflicting findings. However, electronic technologies have both negative and positive effects on the well-being of individuals, which may end up affecting the society at large. Besides, the research findings have many implications on the controversy. The significant implication, nonetheless, is the need to conduct further research on the controversy to try to find conclusive or universal findings regarding the issues. It is clear from the findings that more research is needed to understand the controversy. Also, based on the findings, people should be trained or taught to use new technologies responsibly. Finally, the main ethical implication is the objectivity of scientific studies. Researchers should maintain objectivity when they are conducting scholarly studies.
References
Fenwick, T., & Edwards, R. (2015). Exploring the impact of digital technologies on professional responsibilities and education. European Educational Research Journal , 15 (1), 117-131.
doi: 10.1177/1474904115608387
Kim, H. (2016). The impact of online social networking on adolescent psychological well-being (WB): a population-level analysis of Korean school-aged children. International Journal Of Adolescence and Youth , 22 (3), 364-376. doi: 10.1080/02673843.2016.1197135
Kushlev, K. (2018). Media technology and well-being: A complementarity-interference model. In E.Diener, S. Oishi, & L. Tay (Eds.), Handbook of well-being . Salt Lake City, UT: DEF Publishers.
Magsamen-Conrad, K., Billotte-Verhoff, C., & Greene, K. (2014). Technology addiction’s contribution to mental well-being: The positive effect of online social capital. Computers In Human Behavior , 40 , 23-30. doi: 10.1016/j.chb.2014.07.014
Warren, M. (2016). Teaching with Technology: Using Digital Humanities to Engage Student Learning. Teaching Theology & Religion , 19 (3), 309-319. doi: 10.1111/teth.12343
Yang, F., Helgason, A., Sigfusdottir, I., & Kristjansson, A. (2012). Electronic screen use and mental well-being of 10-12-year-old children. The European Journal Of Public Health , 23 (3), 492-498. doi: 10.1093/eurpub/cks102
