The actual experiment

Children from 12 to 18 years offered voluntarily spend eight o'clock by himself, ruling out the use of means of communication (mobile phones, internet). At the same time they were forbidden to turn on the computer, any electronic gadgets, radio and TV. But permitted a number of classical studies with myself: writing, reading, playing musical instruments, painting, crafts, singing, walking, etc.

Author experiment (family psychologist) wanted to prove his working hypothesis that modern kids too much fun, are not able to take themselves and are completely unfamiliar with their inner world. According to the rules of the experiment, the children were to come strictly the next day and tell how the test went on alone. They were allowed to describe their condition at the time of the experiment, record actions and thoughts. In case of excessive anxiety, discomfort or stress psychologist recommended to immediately stop the experiment, record the time and cause of his termination.

At first glance, the idea of ​​the experiment seems quite harmless. That psychologist mistakenly believe that it will be perfectly safe. So shocking results of the experiment was not expecting anyone. Of the 68 participants before the end of the experiment brought only three of them - one girl and two boys. Three of having suicidal thoughts. Five experienced sharp "panic attacks". At 27 there is a direct autonomic symptoms - nausea, sweating, dizziness, hot flushes, abdominal pain, a feeling of "perturbation" of hair on the head, etc. Almost everyone has experienced the feeling of fear and anxiety.

The novelty of the situation, interest and joy of meeting with him disappeared almost all the beginning of the second and third hours. Only ten of the interrupted experiment felt anxiety in three (or more) hours of loneliness.

The heroic girl who has brought the experiment to the end, brought me a diary in which she was eight o'clock in detail describes his state. There is already stirred the hair on the head by a psychologist. Of ethical considerations, she did not publish these records.

What do teens during the experiment?

- Cooked, ate;

- Read or tried to read,

- Did some school work (it was during the holidays, but out of desperation, many grabbed their textbooks);

- Looked out the window and wandered around the apartment;

- Went out and went to the store or cafe (it was forbidden to communicate the experimental conditions, but they decided that sellers or cashier - do not count);

- Piled puzzle constructor or "Lego»;

- Painted or tried to draw;

- Washed;

- Cleaned the room or apartment;

- Played with a dog or cat;

- Engaged in the gym or doing gymnastics;

- Record your feelings or thoughts, wrote a letter on paper;

- Playing the guitar, piano (one - flute);

- Wrote three poems or prose;

- One boy nearly five hours traveled through the city on buses and trolleybuses;

- One girl embroidered on canvas;

- One boy went to an amusement park and three hours before dokatat that it began to vomit;

- A young man walked Petersburg from end to end, about 25 km;

- One girl went to the Museum of Political History, and another boy - the zoo;

- One girl prayed.

Almost everyone at some point tried to sleep, but no one came, my head spinning compulsively "wacky" ideas.

Stop the experiment, 14 teenagers have got into social networks, 20 called buddies on the mobile phone, three call parents, five went to visit friends at home or in the yard. The rest turned on the TV, or immersed in computer games. In addition, almost all and almost immediately turned to music or stuck in-ear earphones.

All fears and symptoms disappeared immediately after the termination of the experiment.

63 teen retroactively recognized experiment useful and interesting for self-discovery. Six repeated it yourself and claim that the second (third, fifth) time they did.

When analyzing happened to them during the experiment, 51 people used the phrase "dependence", "it turns out, I can not live without ...", "dose", "breaking", "withdrawal", "I need all the time ...", "get off with a needle, "and so.. All, without exception, said that was terribly surprised by the thought that comes to their mind in the course of the experiment, but failed them carefully" consider "because of the deteriorating general condition.

One of the two boys who have successfully completed the experiment, all eight o'clock pasted model of a sailing ship, with a break for a meal and a walk with the dog. Another first understand and organize their collections, and then transplanted flowers. Neither one nor the other experienced during the experiment no negative emotions and noted the emergence of "strange" thoughts.

It should be something to think about ...
Information from the book of Catherine Murashova "Love or educate."