Hundreds of millions of people across the world use the Internet every day. Its functions vary, from shopping and banking to chatting and dating. From a psychological perspective, the Internet has become a major vehicle for interpersonal communication that can significantly affect people's decisions, behaviors, attitudes and emotions. Moreover, its existence has created a virtual social environment in which people can meet, negotiate, collaborate and exchange goods and information. Cyberspace is not just a technical device but a phenomenon which has reduced the world to a proverbial global village, fostering collaborations and international cooperations; thus reducing the barriers of geographical distance and indigenous cultures. Azy Barak and a team of prominent social scientists review a decade of scientific investigations into the social, behavioral and psychological aspects of cyberspace, collating state-of-the-art knowledge in each area. Together they develop emerging conceptualizations and envisage directions and applications for future research.
• Accumulates a decade of research in the social, behavioral and psychological aspects of cyberspace • Develops emerging conceptualizations and projects future research directions and applications • Includes an author website: http://cyberpsych.yeda.info/ , featuring blogs to allow continued updates and communication with readers
Contents
Preface; 1. Reflections on the psychology and social science of cyberspace Azy Barak and John Suler; 2. Privacy, trust and disclosure online Carina B. Paine and Adam N. Joinson; 3. Internet abuse: emerging trends and lingering questions Janet Morahan-Martin; 4. Flow experience in cyberspace: current studies and perspectives Alexander E. Voiskounsky; 5. Cybertherapeutic theory and techniques John Suler; 6. Exposure in cyberspace as means of enhancing psychological assessment Azy Barak and Liat Hen; 7. Down the rabbit hole: the role of place in the initiation and development of online relationships Andrea J. Baker; 8. The sexy side of the internet: an examination of sexual activities and materials in cyberspace Monica Whitty and William A. Fisher; 9. The contact hypothesis reconsidered: interacting via internet: theoretical and practical aspects Yair Amichai-Hamburger; 10. Influences on the nature and functioning of online groups Katelyn Y. A. McKenna (Yael Kaynan); 11. Online motivational factors: incentives for participation and contribution in Wikipedia Sheizaf Rafaeli and Yaron Ariel; 12. How internet-mediated research changes science Ulf-Dietrich Reips.
Review
'Suler offers a unique and creative model of the therapist as consultant, creating tailored interventions for a client from various websites and interventions according to his or her dimensionally specified needs. This chapter provides a compelling example of matching treatment to a patient's needs … I was particularly excited as I started to read the chapters describing the nature and functioning of online groups and motivation related to Wikipedia contributions. … Psychological Aspects of Cyberspace: Theory, Research, Applications provides researchers and students with a rich and diverse set of concepts to study as they explore the psychological aspects of this new reality.' Contemporary Psychology: APA Review of Books
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