The Psychology of the Internet

by Patricia Wallace

This timely volume explores the psychological aspects of cyberspace, a virtual world in which people from around the globe are acting and interacting in many new, unusual, and occasionally alarming ways. Drawing on research in the social sciences, communications, business, and other fields, Patricia Wallace examines how the online environment can influence the way we behave, sometimes for the better, sometimes not. Our own online behavior then becomes part of the Internet's psychological environment for others, creating opportunities for shaping the way this new territory for human interaction is unfolding. Since the Internet--and our experience within it--is still young, we have a rare window of opportunity to influence the course of its development. With a new preface that incorporates many of the changes online and in the field since the hardcover edition was published, the paperback edition of The Psychology of the Internet includes the latest coverage of e-commerce, workplace surveillance and datamining, all areas of recent intense public concern. Patricia M. Wallace is Executive Director of the Center for Knowledge and Information Management at the Robert H. Smith School of Business, University of Maryland. She is author of an interactive psychology CD-ROM called PRISM and of the textbook Introduction to Psychology, Fourth Edition (with Jeffrey Goldstein). Dr. Wallace is also the principal investigator on grants from the Annenberg Projects/Corporation for Public Broadcasting dealing with language learning through CD-ROMs and the Internet.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Internet, Academic, Technology

294 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finding it fascinating how a book written before the inception of social media is so spot on when it comes to describing and illustrating the power of the internet on both the individual and community.

Truly amazing how much knowledge and interesting information is packed in this one book. Amazing to see the relationship of technology and human relationships, culture and linguistics can be so widely affected on so many levels by the internet.

Lots to think about and reflect on as we review the world we live in and the impact that we have on each other.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting read. I enjoyed the fact that each chapter begins with a topic of offline psychology before extending it to the online realm. This helps to provide a connection between what we do on a computer with what we do off a computer.

The combination of what I've read in this book along with recent events has caused me to reevaluate a lot of the things I do with technology and to make a conscious effort to adjust my habits.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wallace here presents the fundamentals of human interactions in cyberspace in an easy-to-understand language for Psychology minors (like me). This well written and concise book shows clearly how the internet and us exist in a mutually re-enforcing lock-in relation. 'Cyberhood' is fed by (& it in turn feeds our) inborn narcissistic and hedonistic tendencies. However, our online interactions have gone beyond MultiUser Dungeons (MUDs), Asynchronous Discussion groups and even Synchronous text based chat environments. True to Moore's Law developments in the social technology (that the internet has turned to be), has outpaced the Psychologist's ability to keep track with the ever-evolving human behaviour online.
Though the true impact of Social media and the many micro blogging services the internet churns out every day is barely touched in Wallace's work, 'The Psychology of the Internet' gives both reader and researcher not only the basics to build on, but also an orbed view of the internet as it affects our behavioural patterns. Great book.

[Jack Dorr · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be honest, I haven't finished reading it yet--I only skimmed through certain chapters that I liked--and so far I'm impressed with the breadth of topics covered. Everything from cyberbullying, social networking, gaming, pornography, privacy and surveillance, to gender issues and sexuality is discussed in this book. The only thing I should mention is that I've been reading the 2nd edition (ISBN: 9781107437326 Paperback) that was recently published in 2016. As soon as it's available on Amazon and added to Goodreads then (hopefully) I'll be able to write a more extensive review, but at the moment I'm thoroughly enjoying this book!

[Jimi Bostock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently re-read this in my preparations for my new digital agency, PUSH agency.

I loved it the first time I read it and I think it is one of older web books that I think might be even more relvant now that we are in the social media / social networking world.

[Bjorn Hardarson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book on the psychology of behavior on the internet, how people behave and react in different kinds of situation (chat, forums, blog, Multiplayer games etc.) . Lots of good researches behind it explained and backed up with theories of social psychology."

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

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