Digital Underground

Technology has been developed to activate the pleasure centers of our brains, which is why it works so well. When we are upset our brains release cortisol, the stress hormone, along with other neurotransmitters that make it difficult to think clearly, problem solve, or even use language effectively. The hard work of soothing that distress metabolizes those chemicals, and ultimately releases others that allow us to feel more centered and secure. It also establishes new pathways in our brains for how to settle when upset, how to problem solve in the face of frustration or disappointment, and how to get to calm again. When we use technology, our brains fire pleasure chemicals which quiet everything else and ultimately rob us of the opportunity to develop any new pathway whatsoever. It also prohibits us from traveling the pathways that already exist in our brains for coping, making those less effective.

Now, to be clear, it is not to say that sometimes we need a shortcut to calm – we do. Mostly it is about using this shortcut judiciously and strategically so that is effective, while not undermining the necessary learning required for healthy emotional development. Just like with the learning curve for driving, we expect there to be a learning curve with technology, but we can’t expect our kids to start on that curve until their brains are ready. The rules and limits we have in place now help to set the stage for putting them on that curve ready to learn. It’s a way to leverage Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development…

Read the rest and find out how to balance technology with emotional regulation skills here.