Daniel T. Willingham highlights the ignored dangers of multitasking in his article “The High Price of Multitasking.” Willingham delves deep into the possible consequences that multitasking can cause, yet people unconsciously ignore it. The common way of multitasking always includes a smartphone, for instance, driving while on call, listening to music while crossing the streets, and listening to music while studying, among others. The article introduced the main claim of the dangers of multitasking; it reduces an individual’s ability to concentrate. Also, multitasking distracts people from completing their work because it reduces their concentration ability since the brain is forced to focus on multiple tasks simultaneously. The main task usually requires more attention, while the less important task helps the individual beat boredom. Therefore it becomes a bit tricky for the brain to conduct the main task fully because it has to conduct two at ago. Consequently, divided attention comes with consequences, including making avoidable mistakes. Although multitasking can be beneficial in reducing stress and increasing productivity, the consequences overwhelm the benefits. In essence, this essay critically evaluates how Willingham uses the logos and ethos appeal to argue that multitasking has pricy consequences.
Willingham uses the logos appeal to convince readers that multitasking leads to reduced productivity by giving logical reasons through using contemporary examples. Multitasking makes individuals lose focus and fail to allow themselves enough time and required focus to complete the main task. Willingham reasons that multitasking is equal to forcing a single mental process to process different tasks that are far from being compatible with each other. For instance, when drivers are driving while typing on their phones or making calls is equal to asking the brain to use one mental process to fulfill the driving tasks and still pay attention to the conversation on the phone. Consequently, drivers have to slow down, which reduces productivity and causes them to concentrate on their phones. To further support his claim, Willingham gives his audience insight into the possible reasons for the policies in twenty states. The policies require that drivers put their devices away while driving because the lawmakers understand that drivers will be less productive and less to cause accidents or traffic jams. However, Willingham reminds lawmakers that allowing drivers to engage in hand-free calls has similar consequences. “Multitasking feels like doing two things simultaneously, so it seems the danger lies in asking one mental process to do two incompatible things” (Willingham, 2019). Willingham notes that while some individuals consider hands-free calls harmless, they fail to realize that they still divide their attention; between driving and phone conversation. Some individuals feel that multitasking makes them more productive, yet research shows that doing a task in stages takes longer than doing it all at once (Willingham, 2019). He offers a relevant counterargument supporting the article’s main claim that multitasking reduces productivity.
Also, the text uses evidence from classic experiments and research to logically convince the audience that multitasking might prevent the successful completion of tasks. Willingham uses evidence from research about how multitasking affects the ability of individuals to complete tasks successfully to conclude that multitasking does the opposite. In particular, researchers have found that when individuals are asked to perform tasks simultaneously, they do not perform as well as they would if they were concentrating on just one task at a time (Willingham, 2019). This is because when people focus on two tasks simultaneously, they switch back and forth rather than staying with one task longer than usual, thus causing errors. The classic experiment about digits and letters proved that when people multitask, they must first reset their goals and change their mental rule. Consequently, they perform slower when they multitask. Also, Willingham uses research from 2015 to prove that many individuals ignore the consequences of multitasking and are so confident that they apply it to all activities. “Fifty-nine percent of young and old adults admit to using their phones while driving. This overconfidence extends to other activities. A 2015 survey showed that most students who use social media, text, or watch TV while studying think they can still comprehend the material they’re studying.” (Willingham, 2019). However, not all tasks can be completed through multitasking. For instance, an individual cannot multitask two productivity tasks and successfully and efficiently complete both. The text also agrees that multitasking one productivity task with another, like music or chatting, is not as derailing. However, some productivity tasks like driving require maximum attention; therefore, multitasking can prevent the successful completion of such tasking. Therefore too much confidence in multitasking prevents individuals from realizing that they are slower while multitasking in certain tasks.
Lastly, Willingham sums up the text by highlighting three important final takes to convince the audience to decide when to multitask and when to do tasks using breaks. After highlighting the consequences of multitasking, the text notes that individuals would still multitask because it is their habit. However, individuals should compare the cognitive cost to the emotional benefit of multitasking before choosing to multitask. For instance, doing two productivity tasks, like writing a letter and listening to presentations, is more costly than beneficial. Such a combination might lead to zero benefits because the individual might complete none of the tasks successfully. Also, individuals should consider the consequences of multitasking, including performing tasks poorly. For instance, driving while on the phone will have detrimental consequences because if the driver performs poorly, it can harm many people. Therefore individuals should cancel secondary tasks or do them later because they are not as urgent as the productivity tasks. Lastly, while Willingham notes that sometimes multitasking can relieve individuals from stress, he offers a better way to get an emotional lift. He suggests that individuals should consider taking many breaks between their main tasks and use the breaks for other secondary tasks, such as checking social media during the break. “Instead of multitasking, take more rest breaks, and get your social media fix during a break.” (Willingham, 2019). Therefore individuals should consider the harmful consequences that multitasking might bring them and others before deciding to multitask. The audience is more convinced because Willingham reminds the audience that he is well-informed about the topic. After all, had is a psychologist. Therefore, his ethos appeal is supported by his authority as a professionally qualified person to give three reasons to reconsider the consequences of multitasking and choose other methods of completing tasks.
Conclusively, Daniel T Willingham’s “The High Price of Multitasking” uses logos and ethos appeal to convince the audience successfully that multitasking has pricy consequences. Multitasking affects individuals and others because it comes with more cognitive cost than emotional lift. Multitasking makes individuals lose focus and fail to allow themselves enough time and required focus to complete the main task. Multitasking forces the brain to divide attention into a single cognitive process to complete multiple tasks that originally required two different cognitive processes. Also, too much confidence in multitasking prevents individuals from realizing that they are slower while multitasking in certain tasks and might not complete any of the tasks. The text uses evidence from classic experiments and research to logically convince the audience that multitasking might prevent the successful completion of tasks. Lastly, Willingham uses this appeal by proving his authority on the subject to convince the audience to consider the consequences of multitasking and use other methods to complete tasks.
References
Willingham, D. T. (2019, July 15). The High Price of Multitasking.
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