Journal of Psychology | Rheika, Tsabita

The Relationship of Self-Control and Social Interaction on Phubbing

Behavior

Authors
Rheika Kautsar Rinjani, Tsabita Sulistyorini
Psychology faculty of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Indonesia

Abstract
The term phubbing appeared in 2020 due to technological advances, since then this phenomenon has
become more prevalent, especially when the pandemic hit. Researchers try to present and identify
based on research that has been conducted by previous researchers. Various studies have provided
interesting new insights into the theory. Thus, we present information about phubbing. The purpose of
this descriptive study is to determine the relationship between self-control and social interaction with
phubbing behavior. Researchers conducted this study because phubbing behavior has become a trend
since smartphones developed rapidly and almost everyone has a smartphone.

Keywords: phubbing, social interaction, self control, adolescent, addiction.

Introduction
Adolescence is a time of self-discovery. The development of technology makes it easier for
teenagers to find themselves. One of the technology products that is growing rapidly in this
modern era is smartphones. The sophisticated features and convenience provided make users
reluctant to break away and make their access time exceed reasonable limits. In fact,
smartphone users often ignore other people because they are too busy with their smartphones.
That is what is called phubbing. From the results of previous research, it was found that there
is a relationship between social interaction and self-control on phubbing behavior.

Phubbing might be considered disrespectful behaviour towards others (Karadaǧ et al., 2015).
It may result in both direct and indirect negative impacts on relationship satisfaction (Roberts
& David, 2016), including a problematic behaviour that could harm both phubbers and those
being phubbed (Chotpitayasunondh & Douglas, 2016). Compare to youth people, older adults
appeared to be generally less lenient toward phubbing behaviour. It reveals the evidenced by
50% of younger adults believing it was acceptable to use a smartphone in a restaurant
compared to only 26% of older adults who held the same view (Ranie & Zickuhr, 2015).

Discussion

Phubbing stands for “phone snubbing”, can be described as an individual looking at

his/her smartphone during a conversation with other individuals, dealing with the mobile

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phone and escaping from interpersonal communication (Karadaǧ et al., 2015). The actors of
phubbing are called phubbers, which are people who constantly check their smartphones such
as social media or chatting. Phubbing behavior has now become a worldwide phenomenon
and is also a very common behavior now. Walking down and focusing on the cell phone has
become a routine sight that can be found everywhere. Phubbing phenomenon is increasing in
line with the increasing use of smartphones.

Based on a survey by APJII in 2018, most internet users are aged 15—19 years, with an
average access time of 7 hours 59 minutes. This makes Indonesia ranked 8th in the world
with the longest internet access time. The survey proves that teenagers in Indonesia spend
more time with the internet than with their surroundings. Based on research from the journal
of guidance and counseling at Pancasila University, data shows that most teenagers use
smartphones for more than 8 hours per day.

The advanced features make users reluctant to detach themselves from their smartphones and
make their access time exceed reasonable limits. This causes users to often ignore others,
such as when gathering with family and going out with a partner or friends. The act of
ignoring or disregarding someone in an environment because they are focused on their phone
rather than building a conversation is known as phubbing.

Phubbing behavior is the result of not being able to use technology wisely. When a person is
too focused on operating a cell phone while engaged in conversation, it is likely that the
person cannot absorb information to the fullest. This behavior indicates a lack of self-control,
as individuals with high self-control are very concerned about the right way to behave in the
right situation. The higher the level of self-control, the stronger the control of behavior that
leads a person to positive behavior.

The tendency of a person to phubbing is increasing day by day until it becomes a pattern of
social relations in society that also undergoes a change. The most visible form of change is
when a person conducts social interactions. A person who uses a smartphone excessively will
experience a short attention span so that they cannot fully understand information and are
more likely to be isolated from the environment (Kaunt, 2013). Phubbing is also influenced
by addiction to smartphones, specifically called the phubbing scale. Symptoms of the

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 Journal of Psychology | Rheika, Tsabita

phubbing scale include attention centered on the cell phone, lack of control over the cell
phone when with other people, anxiety when the cell phone is out of reach. Smarthone
addiction scale includes attention centered on the smartphone, longer time using the
smartphone, lack of control, restlessness when the smartphone is out of reach, nervousness
when the smartphone battery is running low.

Individuals with high Social Interaction will show a caring attitude when with interlocutors
and prioritize interactions in the real world over the virtual world. In accordance with
research conducted by Lusia & Maria (2019) states that there is a significant relationship
between Social Interaction and Phubbing Behavior in students at the Faculty of Health
Sciences, Santu Paulus Catholic University of Ruteng. As social beings, we should not be
able to live alone, individuals will definitely need other people in the surrounding
environment in order to fulfill their life needs.

The rift that occurs in social relationships is due to phubbing behavior. The need to interact
with each other is displaced because of the existence of smartphones. The resulting impact of
phubbing is the loss of interaction quality, dissatisfaction with the interaction, loss of trust
when interacting, loss of closeness felt when the smartphone appears, and feelings of jealousy
to mess up the mood.

Based on research that we analyzed from the Journal of Psychological Research, 17 August
1945 Surabaya University, it was found that the higher the self-control and social interaction
of a person, the lower the level of phubbing behavior. This shows a negative relationship
between the variables of self-control and social interaction with phubbing behavior in
adolescents. It can be concluded that self-control together with social interaction can prevent
phubbing behavior. In order not to ignore others when playing smartphones while talking,
individuals need high self-control and social interaction.

Conclusion

The purpose of this descriptive study is to determine the relationship between self-control and
social interaction with phubbing behavior in adolescents in Indonesia. Furthermore, this study
also reveals the relationship between the three. The phenomenon of phubbing can be easily

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 Journal of Psychology | Rheika, Tsabita

found in our surrounding environment such as when individuals are eating while playing
smartphones, when gathering with family individuals cannot be separated from their
smartphones, even when individuals talk to their friends they prefer to focus on smartphones
and ignore the conversation. To suppress phubbing behavior, it is necessary to have other
factors that encourage phubbing behavior.

References

Fadilah, Ainul., Pratitis, Nindia., Rini, Amanda. (2022). Perilaku Phubbing pada Remaja:
Menguji Peranan Kontrol Diri dan Interaksi Sosial. Journal of Psychological
Research: Surabaya.
Rizkyanti, Charyna., Edyta, Nabilah., Fitrusti, Nefira. (2021). The Role of Cognitive
Emphaty on Adolescents’ Phubbing During Pandemic Covid-19. Jurnal Bimbingan
dan Konseling: Jakarta.
Fardiyan, Ahmad., Gunawibawa, Eka., dkk. (2020). Phubbing Behavior in Young
Generation. Jurnal Kajian Komunikasi MetaKom: Lampung.

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