'Smart' phones: the new security blankets

Quote:

'an infant tends to feel unified with his or her primary caretakers; when the infant has a need, the primary caretaker quickly and reflexively acts to fulfill it. However, as the child ages, the child develops a natural interest in exploring the world beyond the primary caretaker relationship. The caretaker inevitably fails to meet all of the child's needs, which further leads the child to understand that he or she is separate from the primary caretaker. A child often finds an object (eg, a teddy bear or blanket) that helps the child cope with separation anxiety by staying connected to the primary caretaker while simultaneously being independent. This object is a source of immense comfort to the child. 'The smartphone may function as a type of transitional object for an adult. The smartphone allows an individual to feel comforted and connected to others when feelings of physical pain, sadness, or other negative emotions arise.'

from 'The Potential of Object-Relations Theory for Improving Engagement With Health Apps' in today's JAMA https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...rticle/2755742