Society & Culture / Sociology / Social Research & Ethnography

The Objects Secretly Controlling Your Life: How Your Desk, Phone & Home Shape Who You Become

Dinge und Raum in der qualitativen Bildungs- und Biographieforschung

Anja Tervooren, Robert Kreitz

This video explores the groundbreaking research from the book "Dinge und Raum in der qualitativen Bildungs- und Biographieforschung" (Things and Space in Qualitative Educational and Biographical Research), edited by Anja Tervooren and Robert Kreitz. It reveals a startling truth: the physical objects around you—your child's desk, your phone, your living room layout—are not passive tools. They are active agents that secretly dictate your behavior, relationships, and identity. We dive into real-world case studies: how a math toy can trap a child in a corner, why a broken ping-pong table sparks more creativity than a new one, and how a family's weekend escape to a rundown house saves their bond. By the end, you'll see your environment as a hidden curriculum, shaping everything from your stress levels to your child's independence. Learn how to reclaim control from the objects that run your life.