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The electrical umbilical cord (adbridged version)

Dr. Walter Hoffmann/ifat

The legendary success story of the mobile phone can be understood at least at two levels: the real, functional and the unreal, imaginary level. At the real level the mobile phone convinces with its ability to make people’s lives easier. The mobile’s image at the unreal level (mobile phone imago) is multi-layered and marked by man’s infantile wishes and desires. The mobile phone is particularly well suited to appeal to various wishes and desires rooted in childhood history:
- symbiotic desire for a relationship without borders
- infantile wishes for power and control
- narcissistic wishes for exhibitionist creation of self image

Relationship without borders

Human emotional life commences without borders. In the womb the embryo still is one with the mother linked by means of the umbilical cord. This biological unity is terminated at birth, but the psychological bonding remains. Weaning is one of the first inevitable experiences of separation. “Transitional objects“ such as pacifiers, baby bottles or snuggly blankets facilitate the transition from mum to independence. The mobile phone fits this picture well. By means of the mobile we are emotionally linked to the entire world. Mobile users no longer have to perceive themselves as separated or isolated from others. The mobile acts as an electronic umbilical cord by means of which we are constantly linked to an „imaginary“ symbiotic partner. Thus the mobile phone reduces fear.

Power and control

The invention of the phone and the mobile phone in particular have substantially limited the areas of human retreat. With the mobile phone another person’s privacy may be intruded at pleasure without any problems. As soon as the mobile is turned on, calls reach the user without mercy. Consequently quite a few people use the mobile phone not only as a means of communication, but also as an instrument of control. Giving up on privacy for the opportunity of being constantly available substantially limits the areas of retreat thus causing stress. Even when the mobile is temporarily turned off, this does not mean we are emotionally offline. We could well miss an important call in the meantime. The freedom we gain through the mobile phone on the one hand, we thus lose on the other hand.

Creation of self image

The mobile is an excellent instrument for narcissistic creation of self image. It is considered the criterion for measuring a person’s importance. People who are often called on the mobile are sought after, popular and consequently important. How much people enjoy being called, becomes apparent by observing mobile users in public places such as the underground, in restaurants etc. . With some people the exhibitionist needs from early childhood break through freely and openly. The entire world is a stage and indifferent, involuntary bystanders are turned into an audience.

SMS – the icebreaker

The SMS is the almost ideal opportunity of sharing intimate messages without having to establish direct contact. The SMS almost perfectly combines the anonymity of letter writing with the immediacy of a phone call.

It is a fact that mobile phones make our lives easier in many respects. The ways of communicating in a relationship have also increased for sure. I doubt, however, whether the mobile has also enhanced the ability to communicate. People who do not have anything to say are at a loss for words on the mobile as well as without handset.

Institute for Applied Depth Psychology
A-1010 Vienna, Hoher Markt 4/20
Tel.: (+43 1) 533 80 96 * Fax: (+43 1) 533 80 9626
e-mail: ifat@aon.at * homepage: www.ifat.at

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