Psychology & Technology

In my previous post, I explored what online dating really is, and what motivates people to become involved in it. This post’s focus will be on some possible effects and/or outcomes of online dating, and some things to keep in mind when using online dating sites. Firstly, as highlighted in my previous post, lying is quite easy to do online. People want what they want, and they would do whatever it takes to get it; and if they desperately want (or need) a relationship, no doubt about it, they will lie to get it. According to research done in the UK and the US of over 1,000 online daters, 53% reported that they had lied in their online profiles. Not that everyone’s profile is loaded with fibs, but it is wise to be cognizant of the fact that some people will deceive you on such sites (Anderson, 2016). Another point to keep in mind is that although there are many persons who are genuinely seeking a relationship and companionship, some just use the site to find someone to satisfy th...

In societies today, many persons have adapted to ‘online living’ in practically every aspect of life, including dating. Although some still enjoy meeting their special him or her in a face-to-face setting, meeting someone online and then building a relationship from there is becoming more and more common and accepted in recent times. So what really motivates us to utilize online dating? Firstly, according to evolutionary psychologists, physical attractiveness plays a huge role. Because pictures can be easily altered and edited via programs and applications on computers and mobile phones, many persons portray splendid images online. Physical beauty is a sign of health and fertility and so onlookers are usually attracted to these traits as, again according to evolutionary psychologists, we as humans are preoccupied with survival and reproduction (Spira, 2016). In addition, lying and deception seem to be quite prevalent in online dating. People who are on these dating sites see o...

Do you notice a difference in your perceptions of the meanings behind your selfies as opposed to others’ selfies? Well in case you don’t know, generally speaking, we tend to associate positivity with selfies of ourselves, as opposed to negative interpretations of other persons’ selfies. This attributional bias, an error in thinking regarding the reasons for one’s behavior as opposed to another, is indeed supported by research. In Diefenbach and Christofarokas study on the psychology behind selfies (as cited in Rutledge, 2017), the researchers found that participants in the study thought their friends posted many more selfies than they did, and had more negative views about the purpose of their friends’ selfies. So what explains this bias? Some assert that this is simply the way humans are naturally: self-preserving; others claim that it is an attempt to protect one’s image. Whatever the reason, we must always be aware of this bias in our thinking, and consciously work against...

Did you know that there’s actually a bit of psychology behind the random, apparently casual meaning of taking and posting selfies on social media? Yes there’s actually more than mere narcissism, in taking a selfie. According to Rutledge (2017), taking selfies actually serves as means of empowerment to people and also aids in increasing one’s meaningfulness in life. By taking selfies, people are able to take a trip back to memorable times in their lives. This trip allows for the fostering of emotions which can be shared with the people they love. References Rutledge, P. (2017). Interview: Positive psychology of selfies – empowerment not narcissism.  The Media Psychology Blog . Retrieved from  http://mprcenter.org/blog/2017/04/interview-positive-psychology-of-selfies-empowerment-not-narcissism/

In my previous post, I looked at cyberbullying, what is it and the various ways in which it may be operationalized. This post’s focus will be on the negative psychosocial effects of cyberbullying. Research shows that individuals who are victims of cyberbullying are almost always also victims of face-to-face bullying. These persons usually suffer from depression, isolation and a lack of acceptance from their peer groups, which only worsens the situation. These forms of treatments lead to maladaptive behaviors, most significantly low self-esteem amongst others. (Cowie, 2013). Additionally, victims of cyberbullying continuously exhibit decreased academic achievement, frequently experience psychosomatic symptoms and are at an increased risk of committing suicide (Cowie, 2013). In conclusion, it is imperative that we be very cautious of our conduct and etiquette online. The above mentioned effects of cyberbullying are but a few, and can be completely avoided if we are constantl...

The Internet and information technology have indeed been marked accomplishments throughout man’s history. With the Internet we are now at major advantages than in the past and are much more efficient with services such as research, communication and education, all at the tip of our fingers. This development, although of major significance, also poses some drawbacks, particularly the issue of cyberbullying, which will be the focus of this post. First of all, what is cyberbullying? I think that most of us understand the term, but just to be clear, it is the use of electronic communication to bully. Now more importantly, it is vital for us to be aware of the various forms cyberbullying may take, as some of us engage in this type of unacceptable behavior and do not even know. According to Cowie (2013): Cyberbullying takes a number of forms, to include: ·          flaming: electronic transmission of angry or rude messages; ·   ...

Have you ever met someone on a social network, who seemed really awesome, fun, interactive and heavily extroverted, then to discover the complete opposite when you meet them in an offline (real-life) setting? It has definitely happened to me and I couldn’t help but wonder why. I think one explanation behind this seemingly complex phenomenon lies with one’s comfort in an online setting. It’s quite easy to just be 100% confident because he/she is not actually standing in front of someone, and has time to think to respond. He/she may not necessarily have distinct offline and online personalities, rather just an appearance of that because of issues related to self-confidence and self-esteem. Another possible explanation could be that one is projecting the personality type he/she would like to have. It is so much easier to enact that personality online because this person is hidden; body language can’t be read, facial expression can’t be seen and intonation can’t be discriminated. ...

In last week’s posts I explored the ways in which technology is being used to enhance the field of psychology and specific online therapeutic tools. This week’s focus will be on technology’s effects on human interaction. I know it may seem a bit cliché because this topic has been extensively explored, nevertheless it will be briefly discussed. Technology has indeed increased human interaction because there are now more opportunities to connect with others. What is suffering however, is the actual quality of these interactions and relationships. It is quite normal to have 1,000+ friends on Facebook these days, and one would think that someone with that number of friends definitely interacts frequently, which may in fact be the case. But what is the quality of these interactions? Just think about it: how many close friends do people really have and engage in meaningful face-to-face interactions with? Exactly – not that many. Research shows that regardless of the number of people...