The Digital Freezing: Emotional Isolation and the "Silent" Patient-Physician Relationship in the Smartphone Era

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.

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Publication Details

Journal
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Published
2026-02-18
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18678849
Primary Topic
Digital Mental Health Interventions
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

The Digital Freezing: Emotional Isolation and the "Silent" Patient-Physician Relationship in the Smartphone Era

Peter Siegfried Krug
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Digital Mental Health Interventions
article

The Digital Freezing: Emotional Isolation and the "Silent" Patient-Physician Relationship in the Smartphone Era

Peter Siegfried Krug
article en

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.

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Zero hunger
Openalex Percentile: Top 57%
Digital Mental Health Interventions
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