Anonymity--
Anonymity allows people to eliminate parts of their identity that they might not want to share with others. They can be themselves and literally present themselves the way they want to be seen. Disassociating one's various identities (for instance your passion for the Republican party as well as your immense interests in collecting Beanie Babies) can be a great way to manage separate interests. Anonymity also tends to disinhibit people. With their true identities hidden, people may say or do things they normally wouldn't do in real life. People might become more honest, open, generous, or helpful. At the same time, they may also act out negative hidden desires. Anonymity means people are less accountable for their actions.
    Anonymity has positive and negative consequences, just as with other aspects of the Internet. Looking at the positive, people can work through the negative aspects of their identity on the Internet, while expressing and growing from their positive identities. A woman who is suffering from depression may go on-line to seek help and talk to people. The same woman who has a love and talent for gardening may go on-line to develop her skills in this area as well.
    Conversely, negative behaviors, such as viewing pornography on the Internet, may be strengthened by meeting others interested in the same thing. This may turn into illegal acts if the individual's interests possibly spread to, say, child pornography or they act out in anti-social ways. (See Children and the Internet and Anti-Social Behavior on this Web site)
     While on the Internet, a person's hidden wishes and desires may surface in their on-line identities. They can express feelings or emotions that they otherwise might not feel comfortable doing. The way people express themselves on the Internet also depends greatly on their personality, which leads to the next section.

Personality and Behavior--
Personality and behavior on the Internet are interesting topics to cover, since there are so many personality "types" found in Cyberspace. Specific areas of research currently observe how different personality types behave on-line. Many of the personality types that are currently under intensive study are: psychopathic, narcissistic, schizoid, paranoid, impulsive, self-defeating, obsessive and compulsive, hysterical, and dissociative. To learn more about this particular topic, refer to Nancy McWilliams's Psychoanalytic Diagnosis (Guilford Press, 1994). McWilliams' book looks at various psychoanalytic concepts for these personality types.
    When looking at the Internet, most people tend to ask, "What personality types tend to be addicted to the Internet?" (See Are You Addicted to the Internet? on this Web site.)

Gender Differences--
Gender differences and Internet use can be seen statistically on the Demographics section of this web page. Clear differences between how men and women use the Internet are apparent, despite demographics showing almost equal usage by both genders.
    When researching this topic, it appeared that both men and women used the Internet for many of the same things including research, knowledge, games, etc. The genders differed in cyber relationships and video games.
    Men seem to enjoy interactive on-line games more than women. The games many men play for extended periods involved the ranking of characters and a dominance hierarchy. The longer the game is played, the more strength, status, and power the character has over others playing the game. Even more common is the intent to dominate other characters through shooting, killing, or blowing them up (yeah!). Examples of games that are played more by males than females are Doom, Quake, and Role-Playing games. Video Game Addiction on this Web site)
    Cybersex is another area typically dominated by males. When going on-line with the intent to chat, men are more inclined to enter cybersex chat rooms than women. Predominantly, men remark on how addictive erotic chat and adult entertainment can be. Studies performed by netaddiction.com showed that married and single men alike were influenced by the thrill of cybersex.
    Women are more likely than men to subscribe to support groups and virtual communities. When entering chat rooms, women are more likely than men to seek out some sort of friendship or relationship. Women are likely to take advantage of the anonymity of the Net. Reasons for this may be physical deformities or unattractiveness. Women do not have to feel awkward about their appearances on the Internet. Instead, they can be judged by other attributes such as their ideas, writing ability, values, and intellect.

The Roles People Play--
The roles people play on-line are similar to the roles people play in day-to-day life. An Internet user can play the role of counselor, parent, listener, friend, sex-slave, etc. The difference between the Internet and real life is that Internet users can play different roles and switch roles much faster than in real life. They also have the option of being something they cannot be in real life by changing their age or gender. People can play hundreds of roles on the Internet, and many of them involve some form of transference or expression of a hidden desire. (See Transference Reactions on this Web page.)

Regressive Behavior--
Regressive behavior on the Internet occurs in several forms. In an article by Norman Holland, "The Internet Regression," he mentions several kinds of regressive behavior including flaming, sexual harassment, and even extraordinary altruistic behavior such as generosity and openness. Holland believes that these stem from unconscious fantasies about power, dominance, sex, narcissistic gratification and mirroring, oral engulfment, and parental acceptance and love.

Transference Reactions--
Transference reactions are often related to a person's desire to find something in someone else that they themselves are missing or need. The phenomenon of transference occurs when we attempt to re-create particular patterns in our current relationships. These patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving are formed early in life with the relationships we shared with parents and siblings. We create models or templates in our minds about what constitutes the expected ways people will behave in a given relationship. We also try to form basic impressions of ourselves in those relationships without realizing our models might not be like others.
    The Internet can be a prime vehicle for transference reaction because the Internet may fulfill many roles other people normally would. In a strange way, the people we meet on the Internet, via computer, may fill needs in our lives. Often times, a person may not even know he or she needed a particular relationship until they find something similar to it on the Internet. This is when a person's feelings, needs, and desires become linked to the Internet -- that transference reaction.

Learning to Integrate On-Line and Off-Line Living--
Learning to integrate on-line and off-line living is something that all Internet users need to do. Some are far better at this than others. Integration is one of the most important principles in psychology, therefore, it must be done for Internet users as well. In a worst-case scenario, not being able to do this may result in repression, dissociation, or even splitting of one's personality. Being able to integrate on-line and off-line living will ultimately help an Internet user live comfortably both on- and off-line.
    The reason why this is so important is because people tend to separate their on-line and off-line lives. A person's friends and relationships on the Internet may be completely different than those face-to-face relationships. Secondly, on the Internet, someone can belong to several different groups, each of which is a particular interest to them. These groups and friends all compartmentalize their varied interests, whereas in the 'real world' many of their interests overlap with people and places. Your friends might know all your interests, whereas people you talk to on the Net may only know one or two things about you. On a positive note, this gives someone a chance to develop a particular aspect of their personality and focus on that aspect. No one should, however, separate their interests or identities to a point where bringing it all together seems almost impossible.
    Everyone should be aware that Internet addiction -- or any other kind of addiction -- is a disorder where people isolate and guard a compulsive activity against all other aspects of their life. Overcoming the addiction means overcoming anxieties that have been intertwined into habit.
    How Do You Help Prevent Unhealthy Living Both On-Line and Off-Line?  Integrate them! Share the different parts of your personality with everyone on- and off-line. (See Integrate Your On-Line and Off-Line Life on this Web site.)