Psychology says people who can resist checking their phone for an entire movie have these 6 rare capabilities most adults have lost - Silicon Canals

"Picture this: You're settling in for a movie night. The lights dim, the opening credits roll, and your phone buzzes. Just a quick peek, right? Now imagine leaving it untouched for the entire two hours. If that thought makes you uncomfortable, you're not alone. Last week, I tried this experiment myself during a screening of Oppenheimer. Three hours without checking my phone."

"The ability to ignore your phone during a movie isn't just about willpower. It represents a collection of cognitive capabilities that most of us have gradually lost to our always-connected culture. 1. They possess genuine sustained attention Remember when you could read an entire book in one sitting? Or work on a project for hours without interruption? That's sustained attention, and according to research from Microsoft, our average attention span has dropped from 12 seconds in 2000 to just 8 seconds today."

An experiment involved three hours without checking a phone during a screening of Oppenheimer. Many people feel uncomfortable imagining two hours without touching a phone, and physical urges to check emerge within thirty minutes. The ability to ignore phones during movies depends on sustained attention rather than sole willpower. Research from Microsoft reports average attention span fell from 12 seconds in 2000 to 8 seconds today. UC Irvine's Dr. Gloria Mark found it takes about 23 minutes to fully refocus after an interruption. People who resist phone use during films maintain rare sustained attention and protect deep-focus work from frequent disruptions.

Read at Silicon Canals