A Theoretical Model of Technology, Agency, and Wellbeing.

Modern technology's rapid evolution has brought with it an equally rapid change in the relationship humans share with the technologies they use. Digital technologies are increasingly utilising their own agency, often at the cost of human agency. As convenience overtakes humanistic ideals, seemingly at odds with the satisfaction of our basic psychological needs, a dependence on modern technologies has nevertheless been accompanied by negative wellbeing outcomes. This paper puts forward a model for understanding the wellbeing outcomes derived from technology use. It suggests that technology affords its user opportunities to exercise agency, satisfying their basic psychological needs (vis-à-vis Self-Determination Theory), thus influencing wellbeing outcomes. The proposed model provides an explanation as to why some individuals may seek to adopt technology that affords high agency experiences (e.g., 'retrotechnologies', including vinyl records and analogue cameras), in lieu of pervasive digital technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]