We all know that we’re a culture obsessed with our cellphones — but, can you really have an emotional connection with your iPhone?
Results of a national survey by TeleNav, Inc. showed respondents’ strong attachment to their iPhones — revealing that one-third of Americans would be more willing to give up sex for a week than be without their mobile phone, 70% were women.
“Smartphone users were more attached to their devices than were feature phone users, with iPhone users leading the pack.” TeleNav reported.
“In fact, iPhone users were more likely than their Android or BlackBerry counterparts to spend a week without their significant other, exercise or shoes — rather than go a week without their phone.”
But our physiological connection to smartphones may have more to do with the way our phones create deeply emotional feelings of attachment to our friends, relatives and partners according to professional love expert Helen Fisher, Ph.D., a biological anthropologist with a neurological expertise from Rutgers University and author of the book “Why We Love: the Nature and Chemistry of Romantic Love”.
“There are three distinctly different brain systems for mating and reproduction: sex drive, romantic love and feelings of deep attachment. People would rather give up sex for the weekend than their iPhone because their iPhone gives them feelings of attachment to friends, relatives and partners; to world events and games; and to potential lovers,” Dr. Fisher told Forbes.
“The sex drive is an immediate feeling, intense, but quickly dissipated. [On the other hand], the iPhone can elicit a long, deeply emotional and stimulating connection to a broad world. Also, emotion is more controlled on the phone, so much so, it offers unconditional love!”
Sex was not the only thing smartphone users were willing to forego — 68% of iPhone users and 65% of Android users would rather go a week without exercise than without a phone. The study also revealed that 55% of respondents would be more willing to give up caffeine for a week than their mobile phone, 63% would be more willing to give up chocolate, and 70% would be willing to forego alcohol.
What are you willing to sacrifice in exchange for extended quality time with your iPhone? Be careful what you wish for.
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