What’s Wrong With These People?

Whether or not cell phones are dangerous to their users, they’re dangerous to the REST OF US when drivers talk or text when at the wheel. We’ve all had accidents or close calls with drivers who are doing this. In 2010, the National Safety Council estimated that the cause of approximately 28% of all vehicle accidents–a total of 1.6 million annually–could be attributed to mobile phone usage.

WHY do some people continue this practice (it’s even AGAINST THE LAW in some states). Psychologists say these folks are obsessive-compulsive (OC). This disorder may have made "Monk" a funny TV show, but it’s scary for other drivers. Legislation prohibiting mobile phone usage while driving has generally failed, and researchers are trying to figure out why. Researcher Moez Limayem says, "Despite evidence that addiction might drive some excessive and dangerous mobile phone usage, that model explains only part of the phenomenon. Our study shows that another potential driver of such behaviors may relate more closely to obsessive-compulsive disorders than addictions.

“Evidence of compulsive behavior brings to light the notion that the underlying motivation to use a mobile phone is not pleasure, as predicted by addictions studies, but rather a response to heightened stress and anxiety. This is important because behavioral interventions to treat OCD and addictions differ fundamentally, and the possibility that mobile phone usage is a compulsion rather than an addiction may suggest more effective legislative interventions and prevention tactics."

The theory that these drivers are OC was derived from a survey that measured types of phone usage by developing questions grouped into three scales or categories: general mobile phone usage, compulsive mobile phone usage and dangerous mobile phone usage. Within these categories, participants were asked basic questions, such as if they answer calls/emails/text messages while driving, make calls and send emails and text messages while driving, browse the Internet while driving or check social network applications while driving. Some people even said they did their nails while driving!

But a cell phone may be the best birth control method. India is an overpopulated country that desperately needs a lower birth rate. One solution that has been suggested is to use your Smartphone more. While you can have sex WITH your iphone if you want to, the idea is that you’ll be too busy texting to have sex.

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