Digital technology and human psychological needs

Prof. Avi Assor

Aims and main processes of education in postmodern democracies:
(1) To support young people's needs for relatedness, autonomy and meaning, security, and competence; (2) To help young people develop capacities for self understanding and self regulation (including emotional regulation) which would allow them to satisfy their own basic needs, (3) Foster the development of intrinsic rather than extrinsic values which, again help satisfy basic, growth promoting, psychological needs (rather than un-integrated cravings and urges), (4) Foster sensitivity to others' needs and feelings (empathy, perspective taking). Together, these four attributes can help people construct satisfying and meaningful lives, as well as support each other in the journey toward satisfying life.

Theories, methodologies and tools should be used to realize these aims:
The main theories I rely on are: (1) Self determination theory (Ryan & Deci, 2000), (2) Object relations theories and attachment theory, emphasizing the importance of inter-personal connectedness and the difficulties involved in the establishment of fulfilling and comfortable close relationships, (3) Research on efficacy and competence support (e.g., Zimmerman, 2008; Dweak, 2005).

How can we optimize the power of the digital civilization for the enhancement of human development and wellbeing, by taking advantage of the leverages it provides and minding its pitfalls? What should be the role of the digital technology and environments in education?
Digital civilization and digital technologies can help people to gratify their basic psychological needs, develop more intrinsic values, increase the capacity for self regulation and self understanding, and perhaps also increase empathic and perspective taking abilities – when used and guided in human way. The same technologies can easily undermine the development of the desirable attributes mentioned above. In my talk I would provide one or two examples of the constructive or destructive potential of digital technologies. The role of "digital educators" is to try to promote a constructive and humanistic design and use of these technologies.

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