Instead of fostering real friendships off-line, e-mail and social networking may take the place of them — and the distance inherent in screen-only interactions may breed feelings of isolation or a tendency to care less about other people. The problem is, as empathy wanes, so does trust. And without trust, you can’t have a cohesive society.
…The problem is, as empathy wanes, so does trust. And without trust, you can’t have a cohesive society. Consider the findings of a new study co-authored by Kevin Rockmann of George Mason University and Gregory Northcraft, a professor of executive leadership at the University of Illinois who specializes in workplace collaboration. Northcraft says high-tech communications like e-mail and (to a lesser extent) videoconferencing which are sometimes known as “lean communication” because they have fewer cues like eye contact and posture for people to rely on strip away the personal interaction needed to breed trust. In a business setting as in all other social relationships outside the workplace trust is a necessary condition for effective cooperation within a group. “Technology has made us much more efficient but much less effective,” said Northcraft in a statement. “Something is being gained, but something is being lost. The something gained is time, and the something lost is the quality of relationships. And…
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Why E-Mail May Be Hurting Off-Line Relationships
