The wired self: An evolution of being

Pages: 385-392
Nanki Oberoi (The Bitty Oberoi Foundation, Noida, Uttar Pradesh)
Vani Kakar (National University of Educational Planning and Administration, MHRD, Government of India)

The advancement in different types of technology through the advent of Smartphone’s, tablets, laptops and other digital devices of the sort have revolutionized the nature of society. This digital transformation seems to have brought about a radical shift in how an individual perceives himself with respect to the external world, having pervasive implications for his sense of self. The primary aim of this paper is to synthesize the evolution of the self over the years by borrowing key concepts from the psychodynamic, humanistic and existential approaches in psychology through the rather irresistible lens of technology and study their relevance in the 21st century. It is important to critically look into the varying approaches that have attempted to understand the self. The paper acknowledges the significant rise in the use of social media and consequently raises serious and urgent questions for mental health professionals confronting issues arising from constant networking and its inevitable impact on individuals which has no basis and parallel in history to cater to the pressing needs of the eleventh hour.