Question

Developmental Psychology

Sociocultural Theory proposes that becoming literate would fundamentally and qualitatively change the mind, and change the process of development. Do you think the same can be said for the rise of computers (including all forms of telecommunications and Internet connection)? If the addition of computer/Internet tools to human cognitive activity would change the development and functioning of the mind -- in what ways does the mind change? List your ideas and proposals. In particular, pay attention to (a) how these tools change how people use their memories, (b) change how they manage attention, and (c) change how they manage their learning.

Answer 1

Rise of computer and telecommunication specially internet connection has brought revolutionary changes in our lives. It has affected each and every aspect of our daily lives to a great extent. The effects are obviously both positive and negative as there are lot of advantages there are disadvantages too.

With the Advent of internet things have become fast ,world is operating on the finger tips , development is also happening at a very fast pace. From the time of being in contact with only people around you at a time we have now come into a time where one can reach any corner of the world in seconds. Intellectually all the fields is presented with a boon that is internet.

But over a period of time lot of research is being done to know how it affects our mind. There has been immense literature on developmental changes and changes in functioning of our mind.

1.Changes that occur in terms of using ones memory- studies have shown that yes anserws to all the questions and problems are easily available within minutes and cast literature is aviavaila online but since it is available easily people do not use their memory actively and always rely on the internet. Also people who do not use internet are found to have very good memorising capacity. Immediate and short-term recent memory is affected in a negative way,person who uses media or internet to acquire information tend to forget things in short span of time .

B. Changes in managing attention-

With increasing use of technology attention span of the individual is found to have decreased by around 4 seconds as studies suggest.

People who use multi screens or spend more time on internet or social media find it difficult to maintain attention in normal environment and surrounding.

Children who spend more time on internet and media are found to have difficulties in reading and memorising due to dcreased attention span and thus there is academic decline.

C. As stated above Due to dceraese in attention and memorising capacity there is an obvious difficulty in learning.

For internet and social media users it is difficult to pay attention due to which information is not processed further in the brain and it is lost soon, so short term memory is not converted to long term and hence the learning is hampered. In such cases one has to put in extra efforts to pay attention and require lot of multiple reahersals to laern and memorize.