Technophobia: Understanding the Fear of Technology

One of the psychological disorders, also known as psychopathological disorders, which most individuals face due to immense trauma creating an overall disturbance in their mental state regarding either a specific object or a particular scenario is phobias. Apart from phobias, the branch of psychology deals with many mental disorders, which could be either neurotic disorders or psychotic disorders. Thus, phobia is a psychotic disorder where a person develops an irrational fear of anything. Anything apart from a normal rational fear that is irrational is considered a phobia.  

Read More: Understanding Psychology Behind Fear and Phobias

Types of Phobias

Phobias are also classified as: 

• Generalised Phobia or Social Phobia: It is a type where people get social anxiety and are particularly worried about negative scrutiny. 
• Specific Phobia: Phobia towards specific scenarios 

Technophobia in the Modern Era

In the present era, with a fast-emerging and establishing world, gadgets and gizmos are extensively used. From head to toe, we require something as an embellishment to update us on everything. However, not everyone can adapt to this fast-growing world and catch up with the scenes. Some people just can’t embrace the advancements.

This is what is called technophobia. While there is acceptance of gadgets in the industry, there is also an increase in incidences, upgrading the prevalence rate of individuals with technophobia. An estimated one-third of the population has an irrational fear of technology and fast-paced globalisation. It sounds like a pretty young phenomenon to us, but it exists with a history back to the 1960s and continues to ramp up at lightning speed in today’s lifestyle.

Read More: Understanding Technology’s Impact on Mental Health

What is There More In Technophobia?

It’s the type of phobia a person develops towards technology; in other words, it is an overwhelming fear of technology. It is the irrational fear that an individual develops. People experiencing technophobia have a dreadful fear of tech and may feel a high level of uneasiness whenever they encounter any sort of gadget or technological equipment.

Not only this, people with technophobia fear the power of artificial intelligence as well as robots. Technophobia can be manifested by an individual in many different ways, which can range from general discomfort to an extensive panic attack. It is most commonly seen in elderly people and people who find a good amount of difficulty handling technology. Mass media magazines portray it as “technology gone wrong“.  

Basic Signs And Symptoms Of Technophobia

• The first and foremost symptom that one can observe is anxiety. The person with technophobia suddenly starts getting uneasy once exposed to technology. 
• Panic attack development along with the pre-symptoms such as sweating excessively and trembling or racing heart  
• Extreme frustration and agitation whenever using any of the devices 
• Social awkwardness as well as exclusivity develops in some  
• Criticising the advancing technologies  
• Cognitive dissonance {falling behind }  
• Refusing to use any of the gadgets  
• Avoid of usage of gadgets.  
• Nausea and vomiting  

Read More: New AI Technology Will Be Used To Determine Brain Age

Cause of Technophobia

The most common cause of technophobia is the fear of change, which is seen in a comfortably established generation—the elderly individuals—where they experience discomfort adapting to the usage of gadgets and gizmos. Some people sense that there might be some kind of fraud going on when they get too indulged in it, with a fear of betrayal and getting cheated.

Basic concerns towards their privacy and security. Even elderly people or a particular group of people are influenced by negative media portals about the latest gadgets and applications advancing in the market these days. Mass hysteria, as happened earlier in the Y2K case. People can develop a sense of fear by watching certain movies or series where there is an elaborate description of the upcoming doomsday due to the overuse of tech and advancing AI, such as The Terminator.

Read More: Virtual Heist: The Role of Technology in Modern-Day Crime

Impact of Technophobia

Technophobia, even though it sounds simple and less hassling, does have an extensive impact on the generation as well as the development of society. The consequences could be far-reaching as technology is developing rapidly these days, and we are continuously switching towards progressive artificial intelligence. The results of technophobia could be :  

1. Lack of social engagements  
2. Limiting the excess and openness to the world impacts the personal growth of an individual.  
3. It can lead to massive mental health issues such as chronic stress, and regular panic attacks.  

Diagnosis of Technophobia

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR), there are a bunch of phobias with which an individual can be diagnosed. There are many specifications to diagnose the particular phobia an individual has developed. Even though you don’t meet all the criteria for the diagnosis of the phobia, a few more pointers are sufficient to put you on the list. Still, it will be treated by the doctor as it is a matter of health, and nobody needs to deteriorate the mental state or well-being of an individual. So, the doctor will provide a proper procedure for the enhancement of health. 

Read More: Understanding Phobias and Overcoming Your Fears

Treatment of Technophobia

Of all the mental health as well as psychotic disorders, a doctor best prescribes generalised therapy first and then switches to medications for betterment. Technophobia can be treated as all phobias are treated:  

• Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT)  
• Behavioural techniques  
• Exposure therapy  
• Medications  
• Relaxation  

Read More: Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy for Phobias

Basically, for any form of phobia, the primary treatment is behaviour therapy, where the individual is exposed to the agent towards which he/she has developed the irrational fear, and the stimulant is not removed from the surroundings until the person adapts to the agent and learns to control his/her agitation. If things get too out of hand and out of control, the individual is prescribed medications such as benzodiazepines and barbiturates.

Technophobia, with advancement, is also advancing in the real world out there, as technology increasingly becomes part of our day-to-day life, providing central usage. Thus, fear of technology is becoming very common these days. But not asking for help and the right support system will only be considered a disadvantage to your persona.

If you find yourself adding new gadgets and building a home based on AI, then you are not the only one. But if you feel like getting rid of any tech-supportive device and holding on to a conservative, conventional lifestyle, then that could be a matter of concern for you, and help is available—you just need to ask for it. No one is immune to everything that can deal with any form of change and will surely get frustrated, no matter how young or old you are. However, if not therapy, then tech itself can help in overcoming technophobia.

FAQs  

1. What is an example of technophobia?  

For people with technophobia, fear of technology is the fear of getting exposed to or having to use technological equipment such as computers, mobiles, and any sort of artificial intelligence-driven device.

2. What is the fear of AI called?  

Fear of AI is also called technophobia, as it is part of technology, and people develop immense anxiety towards the usage of devices and gadgets.

3. What is the difference between technophilia and technophobia? 

The word “techno” is related to technology here, whereas the other parts of the words “philia” and “phobia” are completely antagonistic to each other. “Philia” means loving, and “phobia” means hating. Thus, technophilia is an immense fulfilment towards technology, whereas technophobia means hatred and fear towards tech. 

4. What is cyberphobia?  

Cyberphobia is a category of technophobia here an individual develops an immense sense of fear towards computers.