Parent Book: An Introduction to Cyberpsychology

This chapter sets out to explain the concepts of compliance and conformity and will give examples of how social influence operates in the online environment. It will present how the models of persuasive communication are being used online. One example of how the principles of persuasion are being used through technology is in a field…

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This chapter details the dynamics of online groups, focusing on why online group membership is attractive for many people. It addresses topics such as how roles, norms, and group identity are expressed in online groups. Recent research that has examined: (i) the impact of online communications on individuals’ mental well-being and social skills, when in-person…

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Many students now study in a multitasking environment, where the goal of study is one option amongst many: listening to music, responding to texts, watching videos, talking online. This chapter examines the prevalence and effects of such media multitasking with regard to the influence on attention, learning, and emotional states. The psychology of attention, multitasking,…

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Technology has permeated every aspect of our lives, even to the core of our love lives. We expand our dating options and meet people we wouldn’t otherwise know, ask each other on dates, investigate in depth the lives of our potential mates, profess our love, reassure each other of our affection, say hurtful and healing…

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The landscape of negative behaviour online is a rapidly changing one. A recent example of this is when many young people across Europe reported significant increases in exposure to online hate content in recent years (Wachs et al., 2021). There are well-known benefits and opportunities of digital technology such as social support and keeping people…

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This chapter will introduce the main theories of the self and identity in cyberspace. In recent years our relationship with the online world has changed substantially, firstly with much larger numbers accessing social media but now, in the aftermath of COVID-19, its use for education, counselling, working, and of course socialising has transformed our experience.…

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This chapter will consider the variety of communication tools used online, as well as the history of computer-mediated communication (CMC), with particular focus on how the Internet has become an increasingly interactive medium in recent years. The language used online will be examined, especially in relation to abbreviations, acronyms, paralanguage, and emoji. The chapter will…

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The chapter will begin by briefly considering the key characteristics of good research. Next, this chapter will review the main types of online research methods (online observational studies, online interviews and focus groups, web experiments, and online questionnaires and surveys), and provide key considerations for researchers seeking to choose an online method. Finally, the chapter…

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