In an interview between Diane Rehm and Matt Richtel, Richtel explains the premise of his new book, “A Deadly Wandering,” which argues that texting while driving can be as dangerous as drunk driving and a harder habit to curb. In his book he analyzes one of the first texting while driving incidents. Interestingly, every single scientific study he referenced in his interview was covered in a PSY 201 class I took but I would bet that a good deal of the 200 persons lecture hall still drives distracted. We were told on the first day that laptops have been linked to poor grades for both the person using the device and the people around them but given the option to use them knowing the research. The first few weeks were relatively tech-free but by midterms most of the class was back to a laptop or just outright not paying attention on a cell phone.

Richtel seems to be dancing around the possibility of technology addiction being the reason that we cannot put away our devices even when we know the harmful consequences of our actions. One of the indicators of addiction is the inability to stop a habit even when it becomes detrimental to the user and the people around the user. If we look at the use of cellphones while driving (or laptops in class) as an addiction the question becomes: what are we trying to avoid? For example, a child who was soothed using food might develop a food addiction as an adult under stressful circumstances because they learned to identify food as a source of comfort and love. In my own life, I try to avoid using my laptop in class because I am easily distracted. This term however, I have been using my laptop to get through one class that I have been struggling with. After the add/drop period had passed, I realized that I disagree with a number of the professor’s personal views on the subjects we are discussing. I was finding it hard to focus in class because I was constantly on the verge of starting an argument. At some point I realized that my professor reads directly off her PowerPoint slides, which are posted online and that I am much less agitated if I am not fully focused. In my case, the use of my laptop is a means to avoid something that I find unpleasant. I never use my laptop in other classes because I don’t find my other classes to be unpleasant. I should stop using my laptop and reframe the class I dislike to think of it as a test of how well I can tolerate opinions different than my own. Of course, it is much easier to continue to ignore the problem, even though I know it only causes more problems long-term. Through self-reflection, we might find that a number of our addictions to technology similarly stem from the desire to avoid pain (or being uncomfortable) and to maximize immediate pleasure. The key to breaking the addiction will likely be found in breaking away from that thought process.