Manfred Spitzer | |
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![]() Spitzer in 2018 | |
Born | |
Nationality | German |
Occupations |
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Children | 5; including Thomas Spitzer |
Awards | See Awards |
Manfred Spitzer (born 27 May 1958) is a German neuroscientist, psychiatrist and author.
Manfred Spitzer was born on 27 May 1958 in Lengfeld, Darmstadt, Hesse, Germany. [1] [2] After his Abitur at the Max-Planck-Gymnasium in Groß-Umstadt, he studied medicine, philosophy and psychology at the University of Freiburg. During this time he earned his money for living as a street musician among other professions. [3] Spitzer is the publisher of the trade journal Nervenheilkunde [4] and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Stiftung Louisenlund. [5] He has a controversial opinion on smartphones, saying that they make children "krank" ("ill"), "dumm" ("stupid") and "süchtig" ("addicted") and should only be allowed without supervision from age 18. [6] German science magazine Bild der Wissenschaft observed that Spitzer's best-selling book about the topic, Digitale Demenz ("digital dementia") was "torn apart" by most reviewers: "Indeed, Spitzer makes argumentative leaps, draws bold conclusions, and comes up with hair-raising comparisons. Although he also cites many scientific studies, he often sweeps inconsistent details, critical comments by the authors, and contradictory studies under the rug. His academic peers reacted with corresponding annoyance. [7]
He has five children, [8] including Thomas Spitzer. [9]