CONFIRMED: Mobile Phone Lovers are Selfish Pigs

By siliconindia   |   Wednesday, 15 February 2012, 23:54 IST   |    1 Comments
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Bangalore: The more you use your mobile phone, the less likely you are to care about other people, reveals a new research from University of Maryland. The research doesn't just talk about annoying social behavior like texting while on a date or talking on the phone in a movie theatre,  reports  Business Insider.

The researchers revealed that after their subjects spent some time using their cell phones, they were less likely to volunteer for community service in comparison with those in the control groups who had not used their phones. It was noted that cell phone users were also less determined to solve word problems even though they knew that their answers would lead to a monetary donation to charity.

If that wasn't weird enough, these selfish inclinations could be extended merely by asking cell phone users to draw a picture of their mobiles and think about how they used them. The researchers also added that a mobile phone is like a surrogate friend.

The researchers explained that "The cell phone directly evokes feelings of connectivity to others, thereby fulfilling the basic human need to belong," as reported by Business Insider. By satisfying that desire people are less motivated "to connect with others or to engage in empathic and prosocial behavior," they said.

So there it goes. Turn the cell phone off and you'll be a nicer person!