Psychology and the Internet: a Social Ecological Analysis
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UC Irvine UC Irvine Previously Published Works Title Psychology and the internet: a social ecological analysis. Permalink https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0q3755ck Journal Cyberpsychology & behavior : the impact of the Internet, multimedia and virtual reality on behavior and society, 6(1) ISSN 1094-9313 Authors Montero, Maria Stokols, Daniel Publication Date 2003-02-01 Peer reviewed eScholarship.org Powered by the California Digital Library University of California CYBERPSYCHOLOGY & BEHAVIOR Volume 6, Number 1, 2003 © Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. Psychology and the Internet: ASocial Ecological Analysis MARIA MONTERO, Ph.D., 1 and DANIELSTOKOLS, Ph.D. 2 ABSTRACT This paper proposes a research strategy based on a social ecological analysis of the Internet and its psychological impact as an option to generate original research to answer the follow- ing question: What is the psycho-environmental meaning of the Internet? This paper has two objectives: first, to analyze Computer Mediated Communication (CMC) linked to the use of the Internet from a social ecological approach, and second, to propose some relationships among variables from a social ecological perspective, which can help to clarify the variability and magnitude of the psychosocial effect associated with the Internet. This article is divided into three sections. The first briefly describes the origins and development of the Internet. It identifies some technological features and specifies some of the cutting-edge breakthroughs that have facilitated its expansion. The second section proposes a conceptual scheme from the social ecological perspective, which analyzes the subject–environmental binomial associated with the Internet. It identifies the basic assumption, the conceptual richness, and possibili- ties for research on the Internet, using a social ecological approach. Finally, the last section describes the scope and limitations of this perspective, and discusses its heuristic utility for the development and consolidation of a new area in psychological research: “digital psychol- ogy or cyber psychology.” ROM THE MYTHICAL Tower of Babel to the MOO) have facilitated the appearance of new Fmore recent digital transmission develop- ways of accessing information and of interper- ments, the human being has demonstrated a sonal communication. Therefore, together basic need for communication and informa- with the potential repercussions associated tion. In the 1960s, Marshall McLuhan 85 said with the Internet’s development, there is a “information is power.” McLuhan’ s vision was new conceptualization of the world and the a premonition of the impact that access to digi- use of power. tal information would have. Dissemination of The impact of the Internet on human func- the Internet, defined as “a large network of tioning has been documented by different dis- computers, a vast collection of information, ciplines, such as sociology, 24,71,133 politics,28,50,110 and a global community of people,”58 and economics,31 engineering, 63 and most recently, its components (www, e-mail, asynchronous psychology. 6,17,21 In this regard, some of the discussion forum, newsgroups, synchronous variables that have been documented include chats, multiuser dungeons-MUD, Media- visual perception, 46,92 interpersonal communi- 1School of Psychology, National University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico. 2School of Social Ecology, University of California, Irvine, California. 59 60 MONTERO AND STOKOLS cation,25,84,86,103 learning,16,33,77 sexual behav- tion. From this perspective, the Internet makes ior,26,27,108 and, particularly, clinical effects in it possible to actualize the “Collective Uncon- terms of possible addiction. 39,88,99,136 scious,” and the “self-organizing” of individual Similarly, the different levels of psychologi- intelligence. 38 This implies a co-evolution of cal analysis that have been documented are technology and human consciousness. 37 intrapersonal, interpersonal, and transper- In spite of the proliferation of information sonal.37 On the intrapersonal level, there are about the Internet, there is a paucity of scientific psychodynamic postulates, 41,68 that analyze evidence analyzing the components, manifes- the level of disinhibition that the Internet pro- tations, and consequences for psychological motes, and the alterations that occur in the functioning with the cybernetic environment therapeutic process while substituting face-to- represented by the Internet. Little 75 gave the face sessions with written language. 56 In fact, it name “environmental experience” to emo- is assumed that “the self in cyberspace is frag- tional experience linked to a particular place mented and multiple.”101 and identified three basic dimensions in the On the interpersonal level, the implications environment: as a source of stimulation, infor- of the Internet for human functioning are vast, mation, and action scenario. It is, however, varied, and sometimes controversial. As an ex- still necessary to answer the following ques- ample, a study by Kraut et al. 72 showed that tions: What is the optimum level of stimu- the use of the Internet in an adolescent and lation in the Internet for the user to have adult sample was associated with a decrease in efficient, direct access to particular sites with family communication with a reduction in the minimum cost interms of tension? How can size of the social network, and also, with an in- the information to be found on the Internet be crease in the frequency of depression and lone- organized so that it is visible and has an im- liness. The Internet has also been used, pact on the different audiences that access however, for the development [(http://www. the network? Which behavioral patterns are thefutureofbusiness.com/login.cfm) on April linked to the use of the Internet with respect to 3, 2000] and expansion of business [(http:// age, sex, schooling, and culture? In short, what www.alphacomnetworkmarketing.com/) on is the psycho-environmental meaning of the April 3, 2000] for health promotion [(http:// Internet? This paper therefore proposes a re- www.monash.edu.au/health/) on April 3, search strategy based on a social ecological 2002], for political propaganda and criticism analysis of the Internet and its psychological [(http://www.stile.lut.ac.uk/~gyobs/GLOBA impact. L/t0000006.html; http://www.pscw.uva.nl/ This paper has two objectives: first, to ana- sociosite/TOPICS/Activism.html) on April 6, lyze Computer Mediated Communication 2001], for the development of new educational (CMC) linked to the use of the Internet from a technologies [(http://www.du.org/; http:// social ecological perspective, 15,18,23,119 and sec- www.tapr.org/~ird/Wadbrook/ telementor- ond, to propose some relationships among ing/WebQuest.htm) on March 2, 2002], and variables from a social ecological perspective, for scientific dissemination and production which can help clarify the variability and mag- of knowledge [(http://scv.bu.edu/; http:// nitude of the psychosocial effect associated www.unesco.org/; http://ajanta.sci.ccny. cuny. with the Internet. edu/~jupiter/pub/com/index.html) on March This article is divided into three sections. 16, 2002] among other applications. The first briefly describes the origins and de- From the transpersonal focus, defined as “ex- velopment of the Internet. It identifies some of periences in which the sense of identity or self its technological features and specifies some extends beyond the individual to encompass cutting-edge breakthroughs that have facili- wider aspects of humankind, life, psyche, and tated its expansion. The second section pro- cosmos”,128 it is argued that the Internet permits poses a conceptual scheme from the social the development of consciousness. 100 This type ecological perspective, which analyzes the of development is a nonverbal and nonlineal subject–environment binomial associated with process, which integrates cognition with emo- the Internet. It identifies the basic assumption, ASOCIAL ECOLOGICAL ANALYSIS 61 the conceptual richness, and possibilities for 1. The Internet topology is of an “open ar- research on the Internet, using a social ecologi- chitecture” type. This facilitates access to cal approach. Finally, the last section describes the web for all computers. Connection the scope and limitations of this perspective, takes place through specific interfaces and discusses its heuristic utility for the devel- that are determined according to the opment and consolidation of a new area in users’ requirement s. psychological research: “digital psychology or 2. Communication media. The Internet is cyber psychology.”123 based on binary language for storage and transmission. Transfers are made through small information blocks, called packages. AHISTORICALCAPSULE: ORIGIN AND Since these packages are small, transmis- DEVELOPMENT OF THE INTERNET sion is quick and allows all computers in- side the web to have the same hierarchical In 1965, Thomas M. Roberts used a low- status. speed dial-speed telephone line to wire a TX-2 3. Access to band-width as a transmission computer in Boston, on the East coast of the service. This service is offered by the big United States, with a Q-32 computer in Los communication companies, such as Amer- Angeles, on the West coast. It was the first ica On Line (AOL), MCI, UUnet, AT&T, and Wide Area Network (WAN). 70 Four years later, AGIS, and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) the Advanced Research Program Agency depend on such companies. (ARPA) promoted the first network installa- 4. Management.