Why Do We Let Our Phones Interfere When We Socialize?

Research on phubbing suggests that the negative attitude many people have toward this behavior is justified.

People tend to feel excluded and their mood suffers when they're being ignored in favor of someone's phone. And frequently being phubbed by a romantic partner creates conflict and leads to lower relationship satisfaction.

Phones are also distracting, making it difficult for people to fully attend to whatever else is going in their environment.

• Positive personal reasons: Finding the phone use more enjoyable or interesting than the interaction with the other person, or using the phone for something important or time sensitive.
• Positive social reasons: Showing the other person something on the phone, or using the phone in a way that related to the conversation.
• Negative personal reasons: Avoiding boredom, discomfort, or other negative feelings.
• Negative social reasons: Dislike of the other person, or being upset with the other person.

Recognizing that we have this bias may help us avoid it. Research suggests that making yourself more aware of this bias and considering how it may be operating when you're using your phone can help you to see how your phone use may be negatively affecting others.

And since you're likely to view your own phone use more positively than the other person does, this is a reminder to think about how you may be perceived by the other person before you pull out your phone.