It seems that what constitutes ‘good 
parenting’ is one of those topics forever destined to attract heated debate. In reflection of this, TVNZ’s Breakfast Show recently featured an interview with UK psychologist and child-rearing expert, Dr Aric Sigman, about his latest book provocatively entitled The Spoilt Generation. He argues that children today are not developing the social skills and empathy necessary for them to successfully interact with others in a civilised manner, in part due to the number of hours they spend looking at screens rather than other people. And so a generation of “little emperors” has emerged, oblivious of others’ reactions to their own behaviour. In this sense, Sigman is suggesting that we are indeed the product of our relationships with technology, and he casts this in a negative light.
But surely the nature of the content being watched or accessed matters? For example, what about the use of new media technologies as teaching tools, evidenced by the plethora of educational games available online? From the technologically deterministic perspective of Sigman, this is irrelevant. "Parents have been preoccupied by content, but these effects occur whether your children are watching the most educational thing in the world or porno,” he said in
an interview with The Press.
Yet, even if we wholeheartedly accept the notion that we are the product of our relationships with technology, Sigman’s argument still fails to acknowledge the potential for positive impacts on children’s development. Certainly, there is research indicating that by playing computer games, children expand their problem solving, cognitive, spatial and coordination skills.
I would argue, however, that the emergence of Sigman’s so-called “spoilt generation” is a reflection of the broader societal shift towards individualism which in turn shapes the development and use of technology, rather than a phenomenon arising from technological change itself.
One final point which struck me towards the end of the Breakfast interview was the discussion about the need for parents to clearly establish boundaries and limits. For Sigman, this is of utmost importance so that children have something to rebel against during their teenage years. According to this logic, pushing or challenging boundaries is both a natural and necessary stage of healthy human development. When considered in light of debates surrounding post-humanism, could we not also, by extension, conclude that it is natural to push against the boundaries of the human form through technology?
parenting’ is one of those topics forever destined to attract heated debate. In reflection of this, TVNZ’s Breakfast Show recently featured an interview with UK psychologist and child-rearing expert, Dr Aric Sigman, about his latest book provocatively entitled The Spoilt Generation. He argues that children today are not developing the social skills and empathy necessary for them to successfully interact with others in a civilised manner, in part due to the number of hours they spend looking at screens rather than other people. And so a generation of “little emperors” has emerged, oblivious of others’ reactions to their own behaviour. In this sense, Sigman is suggesting that we are indeed the product of our relationships with technology, and he casts this in a negative light.But surely the nature of the content being watched or accessed matters? For example, what about the use of new media technologies as teaching tools, evidenced by the plethora of educational games available online? From the technologically deterministic perspective of Sigman, this is irrelevant. "Parents have been preoccupied by content, but these effects occur whether your children are watching the most educational thing in the world or porno,” he said in
an interview with The Press.Yet, even if we wholeheartedly accept the notion that we are the product of our relationships with technology, Sigman’s argument still fails to acknowledge the potential for positive impacts on children’s development. Certainly, there is research indicating that by playing computer games, children expand their problem solving, cognitive, spatial and coordination skills.
I would argue, however, that the emergence of Sigman’s so-called “spoilt generation” is a reflection of the broader societal shift towards individualism which in turn shapes the development and use of technology, rather than a phenomenon arising from technological change itself.
One final point which struck me towards the end of the Breakfast interview was the discussion about the need for parents to clearly establish boundaries and limits. For Sigman, this is of utmost importance so that children have something to rebel against during their teenage years. According to this logic, pushing or challenging boundaries is both a natural and necessary stage of healthy human development. When considered in light of debates surrounding post-humanism, could we not also, by extension, conclude that it is natural to push against the boundaries of the human form through technology?
Great post, Claire. Interestingly, Sigman has been the target of some fairly harsh criticism by "Bad Science" journalist Ben Goldacre (actually I was going to show this clip in class in a couple of weeks but, hey, it's hardly a spoiler).
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