©2008 J Picken
It’s a known fact ,that when online some
people change and not always for the best. There are articles written about the
psychology of cyberspace. Author Suler, J. (2004). CyberPsychology and
Behavior, 7, 321-326, outlines several behavioural issues that some people
indulge in whilst online. In general, people feel less inhibited online and are
more then willing to open up and perhaps display their true nature. For now
we’ll focus on the more negative aspects, which include:
- Dissociative anonymity or just plain “ well you don’t know me so I can tell you whatever I want, be who ever I chose to be”. Yes well talk about taking liberties, not everyone online are idiots.
- In visability or “Hey you can’t see me so I can type whatever I want and you’ll never know what I am really thinking.” Well true to some degree, but guess what? Words and how they are used can disclose much.
- Asychronicity or “I don’t have to deal with that person, issue or discussion now it’s only the internet”. So not dealing with others in “real time” permits running away because the internet provides a great big space. Hello…ever heard of the old line “You can run but you can’t hide?”. Running may work on line for a while, but eventually that even catches up.
- Solipsistic introjection or “ Lets make these people I type to online what I want them to be” hmmm…so the illusion begins, now there is the non-reality factor creeping in. Some people cannot see the tree for the forest. Wonderful apparatus, the mind, it can create all types of illusions, even about people online.
- Dissociative imagination , oh now this is really fun, now we combine solipisistic introjection with the creation of an imaginary dimension that all our online buddies inhabit. How cool! Our very own dimension!
In my
opinion, all these aspects are ego based and provide valuable insight into ones
psychological well being. Makes me wonder just how many people are not only
wandering around in society with undiagnosed mental health issues, but also the
number that flow over into cyberspace. Is it so difficult to conceive that
there are living breathing people behind the typing , emails and messages? Now
wouldn’t it be interesting just for a moment to get into the headspace of
someone with the negative aspects outlined above. Couldn’t you just make
someone elses life a living nightmare? Most definitely, all those aspects are
rather obsessive, possessive and manipulative and you know what they say…”one
thing leads to another”.
