So, you log onto the Internet, find a chat room you have been visiting lately, and chat again with that 29-year-old female waitress from Nebraska. What does she really know about you, and what do you really know about her? How do the two of you interact, and how close have you become over the past few weeks? Finally, why are you even on the Internet talking to this person, and not out meeting people?
These are all valid questions people should ask themselves when they use the Internet. The purpose of this Web page is to broaden your understanding of the Internet and the role it plays in society. Many psychological issues surround the Internet, ranging from identity management to cyber romances. Learn about the many psychological aspects surrounding the Internet so that you can understand the influence it has over people.
The information has been condensed to provide an easy-to-navigate site that covers all aspects of Internet psychology and addiction.
- Why Do People Use the Internet?
- Demographics: Who Uses the Internet?
- The Internet as Psychological Space
- The Nine Main Psychological Features of the Internet
- Identity
- Anonymity
- Personality and Behavior
- Gender Differences of Internet Use
- The Roles People Play
- Regressive Behavior
- Transference Reactions
- Learning to Integrate On-line and Off-Line Living
- Real Life vs. Cyber Relationships
- Is Cyber Romance Real?
- Cyber Sex
- How Therapy and Support Groups Work
- Chat Rooms
The Big Picture -- The Internet and Society People use the Internet for a variety of reasons. It serves as a vessel in which people can find a wealth of knowledge about the most obscure subjects. Web sites, newsgroups, and lists are all very powerful resources for people to find information and help they might need. The Internet also serves as a source of communication for many of its users.
A variety of psychological events occur when a person logs onto the Internet. This page will dissect the different psychological happenings that occur on-line and provide links to other sites that may elaborate on these topics. Before reading this page, it is important to have an idea of exactly who uses the Internet, so here are some demographics provided by Nielsen/NetRatings from a story in Internet World.
Demographics:
Who Uses the Internet?
| Number of Americans On-Line: 76 million | Male: 52.7% | Female: 47.3% | Total People Worldwide: 149 million |
Age and Education--
| Age | Percentage | Education | Percentage |
| 18-24 | 11.3% | Some High School | 5.7% |
| 25-34 | 19.1% | High School Graduate | 18.8% |
| 35-44 | 23.0% | Some College | 9.5% |
| 45-54 | 17.2% | Associate degree | 20.9% |
| 55-64 | 6.7% | Bachelor's degree | 25.1% |
| 65+ | 3.7% | Post-Graduate degree | 16.9% |
| No response | 1.6% |
Income and Geography--
| Income | Percentage | Geography | Percentage |
| $0-25k | 6.4% | North American | 55.5% |
| $25-50k | 25.8% | Western Europe | 23.3% |
| $50-75k | 28.6% | Asia Pacific | 15.5% |
| $75-100k | 17.5% | Eastern Europe/Russia | 2.0% |
| $100-150k | 10.4% | Latin America | 1.9% |
| $150-$1m | 4.9% | Middle East/Africa | 1.9% |
| No response | 6.4% | Middle East/Africa | 1.9% |
Race--
| White | 83% |
| American Indian | 1.0% |
| African-American | 8.0% |
| Other | 4.0% |
| Asian | 2.0% |
| No Response | 1.9% |
What is This Place?
The Psychology of Cyberspace
The Internet is labeled a psychological space because it is considered an area people 'travel' through. On-line areas may be referred to as "worlds," "domains," and "rooms." People must deal with Internet 'traffic' to get from one site to the next, or even deal with "lag" when trying to communicate with someone else. By simply referring to the Internet as "Cyberspace," we are giving it a tangible space, one that people can visit and associate meanings and experiences. The Internet can also become a fantasy world where people conjure up their own images of people they meet or places they visit.
In ideal situations, we use the Internet as a source of knowledge and understanding. We can meet people like ourselves and explore our own personality as well as those of others. People may abuse the Internet by indulging in their fantasies, acting upon their desires, or venting frustrations. When viewing the Internet as a psychological space, nine main psychological components exist differentiating it from places in the 'real world.'
