9780333984680

The Internet is transforming business, education, and maybe even ourselves. In this timely and unique text, Adam Joinson provides a clear, engaging and lively summary of the psychology of the Internet, while at the same time drawing lessons from previous technologies as diverse as the early telephone, telegraph, and even radio hams. Mixing anecdote with findings from psychological studies, this book provides a clear, compelling and insightful vision of the psychology of the Internet, and the implications for the design of future technologies.

Adam N. Joinson is Lecturer in Educational Technology, Open University.

List of Figures

ix

List of Tables

x

Preface

xi

Acknowledgements

xiii

List of Abbreviations

xv

Putting Psychology and the Internet in Context

1

(19)

Tools and the psychology of the Internet

2

(1)

A brief introduction to the Internet

3

(3)

Talking without meeting: a quick look back at the psychological consequences of mediated communication

6

(12)

Writing

7

(2)

The telegraph

9

(3)

The telephone

12

(3)

Radio communication

15

(2)

Mobile telephone text messaging

17

(1)

Mediated communication -- lessons from history

18

(2)

From Tools to Behaviour

20

(33)

Characteristics of the tool and behaviour

20

(5)

Synchronicity

21

(1)

The cues transmitted

22

(1)

Bandwidth and cost constraints

22

(1)

Anonymity

23

(1)

Sender--recipient exclusivity

23

(1)

Mapping media to the five dimensions

24

(1)

Affordances and the Internet

24

(1)

Models of mediated communication

25

(13)

Cues-filtered-out approaches

26

(9)

Critiques of cues-filtered-out approaches

35

(3)

Self-focus models

38

(15)

Dual self-awareness

39

(3)

Social identity explanation of de-individuation effects (SIDE) and CMC

42

(8)

Critiques of SIDE

50

(1)

Rational actors and emergent properties: alternatives to technological determinism

51

(2)

Negative Aspects of Intra- and Interpersonal Internet Behaviour

53

(32)

Internet addiction

55

(9)

Diagnostic criteria revisited

59

(5)

Flaming and antisocial behaviour

64

(13)

Empirical evidence for `flaming'

65

(2)

Flame wars and the structure of argument

67

(4)

Stereotyping outgroups and flaming

71

(2)

How prevalent is flaming?

73

(1)

Explanations of flaming

73

(4)

Internet relationships: too close too soon?

77

(8)

Deception and misrepresentation in on-line relationships

77

(2)

Idealisation in on-line relationships

79

(3)

On-line infidelity

82

(3)

Depression, Deception and Pornography: The Dark Side of Life On-line

85

(30)

Internet use and psychological well-being

86

(10)

Critiques of the Internet paradox study

87

(3)

Support for the Internet paradox

90

(3)

The Pew Internet and American Life Project

93

(1)

The HomeNet sample revisited

93

(2)

Concluding thoughts

95

(1)

Social support on-line: the dangers of bad advice, victimisation and demarginalised deviance

96

(2)

Deception and gender-bending in on-line communities

98

(10)

Gender and communication style

98

(2)

Deception in on-line communities

100

(8)

Disinhibition and the WWW

108

(7)

Researching web behaviour

109

(1)

Internet pornography

110

(3)

Psychological aspects of Internet pornography consumption

113

(1)

Explaining disinhibited and deviant behaviour on the WWW

113

(2)

Positive Intra- and Interpersonal Aspects of Internet Behaviour

115

(28)

Utopianism and new technology

116

(1)

Internet addiction revisited

116

(2)

Who is using the Internet excessively, and to what end?

116

(2)

Positive aspects of the Internet and identity

118

(3)

On-line identity and real life

121

(3)

Internet activity and marginalised identities

121

(2)

Possible selves and Internet identity

123

(1)

Deception and possible selves

124

(1)

Media choice, impression management and metaperception

124

(2)

Impression formation on the Internet

125

(1)

Interpersonal interaction

126

(7)

Benefits of mediated communication

126

(1)

Hyperpersonal interaction and social information processing

127

(3)

Self-disclosure and CMC

130

(3)

Romantic relationships on the Internet

133

(10)

Using the Internet to form and develop romances

134

(1)

The Internet and attraction on-line

135

(5)

The prognosis for on-line relationships

140

(1)

Enhancing existing relationships using the Internet

141

(2)

Sharing and Surfing: The Benefits of On-line Communities and Web Browsing

143

(20)

Virtual communities: the benefits of belonging on-line

143

(1)

The benefits of weak ties and virtual communities

144

(1)

Emotional support on-line

145

(8)

On-line social support: content

146

(3)

Who seeks support on-line?

149

(1)

Psychological processes and benefits of on-line social support

150

(3)

The Internet and quality of life

153

(4)

Charlotte's web: one woman's story

155

(2)

Positive aspects of motivated web browsing

157

(3)

Fanship on the Internet: evidence for `safe' environments

159

(1)

Applications and implications of positive Internet use

160

(3)

A framework for Understanding Internet Behaviour

163

(22)

Aspects of the user

163

(9)

Strategic use of the Internet

163

(3)

User characteristics and Internet use

166

(3)

Motives and Internet use

169

(3)

Media effects

172

(6)

Specific and global effects of Internet use

173

(1)

Predicted and emergent effects of Internet use

174

(4)

The interaction between media effects and the user

178

(1)

Implications and applications of SMEE

179

(6)

Links to other models

179

(3)

Internet addiction and SMEE

182

(1)

Uninhibited communication

182

(2)

Internet use and mental health

184

(1)

Looking to the Future, Learning from the Past

185

(15)

The internet is about communication, not content

185

(4)

Financial aspects of the social/information metaphor

186

(3)

Bandwidth and the psychology of the Internet

189

(2)

Designing Internet behaviour

191

(1)

Applying psychological research on Internet behaviour

192

(7)

On-line counselling and support

193

(2)

Educational technology

195

(3)

E-commerce

198

(1)

Future technological developments, past behaviour

199

(1)

References

200

(18)

Author Index

218

(3)

Subject Index

221

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Understanding the Psychology of Internet Behaviour Virtual Worlds, Real Lives

0333984684

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

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