Wednesday, April 01, 2009

Techno-nature

Humans may be losers if technological nature replaces the real thing





Modern technology increasingly is encroaching into human connections with the natural world and University of Washington psychologists believe this intrusion may emerge as one of the central psychological problems of our times.

"We are a technological species, but we also need a deep connection with nature in our lives," said Peter Kahn, a UW developmental psychologist and lead author of a new study exploring how humans connect with nature and technological nature.

Writing in the current issue of the journal Current Directions in Psychological Science, Kahn and two of his UW graduate students, Rachel Severson and Jolina Ruckert, look at the psychological effects of interacting with various forms of technological nature and explore humanity's growing estrangement from nature.

1 comment:

Mike Clelland! said...

I feel like I have some good insights into this subject.

I teach for an outdoor school, and we do 30 day expeditions in remote wilderness environments. I see the students get an "awakening" experience. And it's remarkably moving.

There is a peace and contentedness that one can find in nature that acts as a sort of nourishment for the soul.

If we are to survive as a species, we must re-connect with the natural world. Our future depends on it.