When the Cave Becomes Home

Authors

  • Carin Knoop Executive Director at Harvard Business School, Harvard University, Massachusetts, USA. Co - founder of Human Sustainability Inside Out (HSIO), USA 0000-0002-1732-3151
  • Michael Stanley Tufts Medical Center, Department of Neurology, Division of Neurocognitive, Boston, MA, USA 0000-0003-2938-9518
  • Antonio Sadarić BUFFED Consulting, Zagreb, Croatia 0000-0003-2246-6584
  • David Morrison Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Chicago. USA Past President of Medical School Academy of Organizational and Occupational Psychiatry. CEO, Morrison Associates, Ltd. USA 0009-0002-7174-6742

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7336/academicus.2024.30.02

Abstract

This paper explores the intersection of human psychology and advanced technology, focusing on how intelligent and emotive technology influences human behavior and emotional intelligence, and in the process, might impact our ability to show and feel empathy. Based in Alfred Adler’s theory of human motivation, we examine how feelings of inferiority — vulnerability, powerlessness, perfectibility, and the need for affiliation — drive our increasing dependence on technology. The human tendency to treat inanimate objects as animate is heightened by the sophisticated communication capabilities of Generative AI (Gen AI), altering our interpersonal dynamics and communication signals. We analyze how this shift impacts empathy, self-centeredness, and impatience, suggesting a need for conscious awareness of technology’s limitations to preserve genuine human connections. By conducting a “technology dependency audit,” we encourage individuals to reflect on the extent to which their lives are mediated by technology. Ultimately, the paper argues for reclaiming our emotional and practical autonomy from technology to maintain authentic human relationships and emotional well-being. 

Keywords:

GenAI, empathy, emotional intelligence, social psychology, human-machine interaction, Alfred Adler,

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Published

2024-07-11

How to Cite

Knoop, C., Stanley, M., Sadarić, A. and Morrison, D. (2024) “When the Cave Becomes Home”, Academicus International Scientific Journal. Vlora, Albania, 15(30), pp. 20–38. doi: 10.7336/academicus.2024.30.02.