Hidden Causes - a Psychological Approach to Learning Detailed Ver. | Page 13

What are some developmental/psychological reasons why
students are easily distracted? 
If you are talking about students in your age (adolescence), then distraction is a
common thing. An adolescent life is full of energy as well as interest. Their physical
is developing stronger and energetic so that they are not easily getting tired as
soon as during their childhood. Their mind is mixed between high curiosity and risk
taker to explore many things at once. In addition, their prefrontal cortex is still
developing. That’s why many teenagers need to learn following plan and
arranging life priority.
What are some of the factors that may distract students while
they are learning?
• Social life (friends are more important than parents, in the world of adolescence)
• Academic demand (you name it!)
• Media and entertainment (games, mall, newest fashion, advertisement, theme
park, etc).
How does the factor affect them?   
These factors make adolescence life normal, colourful, memorable, fun, exciting….
but…. yes…they distract the stude nts’ focus from study.
Compared to the past, how does the evolution of technologies
(use of laptop, smartphone, etc.) have distracted students? 
One thing that makes technologies distracting is its “pop-up” system. Imagine this,
you are listening to a lesson and ready to take note in your laptop. Suddenly, “pop!”
a message comes up! It from your friends! Of course, the temptation to follow up
the news is more important than listening to Psychology cognitive theory…. :P
Current technologies make you accessible wherever you are. Not only that you are
accessible to the society, you also have the temptation to post your activity
minutes by minutes (isn’t it? Snapchat?). As if there is a feeling that if you are not
posting your life, you are alienated from your in-group . Of course these all hustle
bustle makes life more similar to fireworks in the 4th of July!
Hidden Causes - 9