cyberpsychology Flashcards
what is cyberpsychology?
- the way technology impacts our psychological processes, motivation, intentions and behaviours, both online and offline.
what is the Web 2.0?
It’s when the internet went from being passive. People could create their own content, the internet became interactive and more social.
What are filtered out cues, and filtered cue in?
Cues filtered out - the argument is the internet had filtered out non- verbal cues and interpersonal cues we use when interacting ftf (internet interaction is inferior)
- cues filtered in - the way we interact ftf has filtered into the way we interact on the internet.
what is Social Presence
Theory ? (Short Williams
& Christie, 1976)
-argues the internet filters out cues and is not as good as ftf interaction
- bandwidth is how many cues a medium can relay, including non verbal cues
- more bandwidth means more social presences.
- bandwidth is all the information we can take in about an interaction, e.g body language, facial expressions, tone of voice. The theory argues we have more bandwidth in ftf interaction compared online.
Support research for social presence theory ?
-Walther, 2011
What is Social Information Processing theory ? (SIP theory) (Walther,
1992)
-agreed with social presence theory that there are few cues in an online interaction compared to ftf, however its not a bad thing
-when we use technology, we make ourselves understood and we use what is available to us
-we interpret messages based off the content, style and timing e.g reply times
-we can choose are words carefully in a text and have emojis
- we can use these as cues instead interpersonal cues.
-online interaction can be equivalent to ftf interaction when individuals utilise different cues
Social Identity model of Deindividuation Effects ?(SIDE) mode (Reicher, Spears & Postmes, 1995)
- focused more on groups instead of one to one interaction
-looks at what are the effects and use of visual anonymity
-when verbal and non-verbal cues are missing, its easier for someone to switch from self-identity to a group identity - when groups or social cues are more salient (noticeable/ attention grabbing) self identity can switch to group identity
-When individual cues to identity remain salient then the focus remains on the self identity.
-can be argued its a filtered out approach because it says there is a lack of cue in internet interaction, but the theory is more interested in the noticeable cues
-when someone affilates to a group, positives or negative things can happen dependent on the group norms
-when there is both visually
anonymous and identifiable individuals the focus may remain on the self identity
what is hyperpersonal model? (walther, 1996)
- cues are manipulated
-online interactions can exceed ftf interaction, instead of interpersonal interactions, it becomes hyperpersonal interaction - the theory came about because people online were developing intense relationships over the internet exceed relationships occurring from ftf interaction
-there are 4 actors can that make interaction into hyperpersonal interaction
What are the four factors from hyperpersonal model?
- senders- we have more control over how we present ourselves on the internet. In text you can choose the right words, delete messages, which doesn’t happen in speech. Physical distance also means verbal and visual cues can be hidden if you want to. Also online we can select self present for optimal self presentation.
- receives - we over idealise and see positive attributes from the senders, we positively overgeneralise and intend for future interactions. We fill in the gaps in online interactions positively.
- channel of communication- it can support the optimal self presentation. We can put focus on the text we are sending, instead of how we look, how we sound, and our reactions. We can edit texts, rewrite and delete them. Our cognitive resources we would use to make sure we are coming across well in a ftf interaction can be relocated to the message we are sending.
- feedback loop- idealised senders give out idealised messages,
receivers take these idealised messages, interpret positively and the loop goes around.
What is disinhibition effect? (Suler, 2004)
- people act differently online compared to in person, there are at least 6 factors that contribute to why :
1. dissociative anonymity - people do not know you, you can hide or alter your identity or parts of your identity. You can separate you online actions from your offline self.
2. Invisibility- cant be seen, your physical body cant be seen.
3. Asynchronicity - you can say something, go offline, and come back when you want, e.g emotional hit and run.
4. Solipsistic introjection - Can start to feel interactions are just taking place in our minds and be more open
5. Dissociative imagination - Can perceive an online interaction as different and less real than a ftf exchange e.g its just a game
6. Minimization of authority - Status and authority can become diluted - two types of outcomes can happen:
1. Benign disinhibition- A positive type of inhibition e.g online support or share distressing stories and emotions
2.Toxic disinhibition - Aggressive acts that would not normally commit e.g trolling
In 2016, what did Suler add the the 6 factors of disinhibition effect?
*Perceived privacy – “it’s just me and you and it
won’t be moved outside of the interaction”
*Social facilitation - “everyone else is doing it so
it’s okay” may explain victimising behaviour
Criticisms of social presence theory?
- studies were done when two groups of participants had to interact to achieve a goal. 1 group interacted ftf and group 2 did it via text. It was deemed that the ftf interaction was more successful. Issues with this is speaking is a lot quicker than texting and not enough time was allocated for detailed interactions online. Also people on text did not know if they were going to see the other people again, this could of changed the type of interact.
-other issue is real and intense relationships can form online which can exceed in person interacts.
criticisms of hyperpersonal model?
- this theory does not always fit, for example on dating apps. The barr theory argues we do not always optimise self presentation, we want a balance of real because we don’t want to catfish.
What are the 4 types of social support ? House (1981)
1.Emotional support–empathy and caring
2.Informational support–provision of information
3.Appraisal support– information to help the individual appraise information and evaluate for themselves, rather than just problem solving for the person
4.Instrumental support– tangible provision such as goods or services.
-all types reduce uncertainty and offer wellbeing
What is online support?
- thanks to web 2.0 we can interact online
- its social support online
-e.g parenting, weight loss, illness
Coulson (2019) what are differences between 2 main types of online support communities?
Synchronous:– real time e.g live chats
Asynchronous:– content evolves over time, hours, days, weeks e.g blog
-asynchronous is the most popular online support
Why use online support communities?
-Limited access to support from traditional social networks,
-living with health related stigma,
-perceived credibility or similarity of those in the group
-convenience and other features of CMC
what are the advantages of online social support?
- can get it anytime, don’t need to attend an time scheduled group
-no travel - easy to find similar people to you
-larger audience
-anonymity
-self presentation advantage
-hyperpersonal relationships - the act of writing instead of speech
how does online anonymity help social support?
- can disclose embarrassing problems
- reaction to information can not be seen
- anonymity can lead to enhanced disclosure (link to online disinhibition effect)
how does self presentation online advantage social support?
-hypersonal model
- we have more control of what we write, so we can plan the right thing to say
- verbal and visual cues are hidden
-enables optimal self presentation
-good channel of communication
-we can focus of the word we write instead of how we looks and sound
-can edit and delete
-use all cognitive resource o texting the right thing
what is a hypersonal relationships ?
4 effects :
Sender: can send optimised messages
Receiver: receiving optimised self presentations of others
Channel: the features of the medium which can enable us to optimise ourselves
Feedback: idealised senders give idealised messages, idealised receivers interpret positively, the loop goes round.
- it hypersonal relationship is argued to be better than face to face, therefore should advantage social support
how does the act of writing benefit online social support?
-literature suggests writing out the problem helps, this may benefit social support
what is social comparison theory?
-Comparing our situation to others gain accurate self evaluation
-Various directions: upward, downward, lateral
-Outcomes of social comparison not always positive, complex interplay of factors
What are the disadvnatges of online support groups?
- first levels of individual divide- having or no having the internet
- second level- people may have access but doesnt have the right skills to use it
- third level- just becuase you have access to the internet and have some level of skill it doesnt not mean you know where to look to find information that will be benfifical to you.
what is the negative content of social support groups?
- there are people who go on social support online networks to be agressive and hostile becuase of the online dishibition effect
- Mo & Coulson (2014) found people were riduling and attack people on HIV/ AID support group
What is Mo & Coulson (2014) issues with information?
misinformation - people can have good intentions but these people are peers and no professional and therefore could give out misleading information
-information overload - you are given some much information its hard to find what you actually need
what is the problem with lack of cue on online support ?
- we all have loads of non-verbal cues, and social presence theory would argue we cant not compensate for this online
what is the delay or non reponse issue?
- when support is happening online there can be a delay is a reponse or someone can not respond to you at all, this could make someone feel even worse. When support is happening in person, someone will always respond.
what is lurking ?
- community members who may not contribute at all.
- a reader not a poster
- online content depends on active users however there is way more lurkers than active users therfore we are missing out on lots of peoples experiences and contrubitions
- literature is undecided if they gain less than active users