Smartphone's on, humanness's off: Phubbing breeds dehumanization via subjectivity uncertainty

Abstract

Increasing scholarly interest in phubbing has helped researchers accrue knowledge regarding its psychological outcomes; however, how phubbing affects person perceptions and interpersonal behaviors in general interpersonal contexts, which is critical to a thorough knowledge of the implications of phubbing, remains inadequately researched. To bridge the gaps, we investigated whether and how phubbing affects dehumanization and the downstream consequence of this effect. Four studies (one preregistered), using authentic behavioral data (69,399 posts) from social media (Study 1), correlational design (Study 2), and experimental methods (Studies 3–4), concurred in supporting the fact that phubbing increases dehumanization. Furthermore, subjectivity uncertainty mediated the effect of phubbing on dehumanization (Studies 2–4), while the alternative mediating role of metadehumanization was ruled out (Studies 2–3). In addition, dehumanization elicited by phubbing further increased aggressive behaviors (Study 4). Our research provides new insights into the consequences of phubbing and the factors contributing to dehumanization. It reminds people to note the possible severe consequences of phubbing, an unwitting act, in interpersonal interactions.