The Digital Freezing: Emotional Isolation and the "Silent" Patient-Physician Relationship in the Smartphone Era
Abstract
This publication analyzes the phenomenon of "Digital Freezing"—the creeping emotional cooling of society caused by the permanent flood of digital stimuli and smartphone dependency. A particular focus is placed on the transformation of helping professions: the transition from empathetic interpersonal resonance to "data-driven" diagnostics. In modern medicine, the "Hybrid Physician" often prioritizes the screen over the patient’s gaze, leading to a state of "Psychic Numbing" and social malnutrition. The work combines neurobiological findings on dopamine down-regulation with sociological theories (e.g., Hartmut Rosa’s "Resonance") to document the systemic loss of empathy in a hyper-connected yet emotionally isolated world.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Empathy and Medical Education
Digital Media and Philosophy
Medicine
History
and Philosophy
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
- Publication date
- 18 February 2026
- Language
- EN