Bryce Hammond, Maishania Lundi, Erin Miller
Psychology of Computers and the Internet (Shippensburg University)
http://webspace.ship.edu/jacamp/computers.htm
Psychology of Computers and the Internet (Shippensburg University)
http://webspace.ship.edu/jacamp/computers.htm
Technology is ever advancing in society today. As more of these changes and evolution in technology occur psychologists are tasked with looking at how these changes affect the psychological well-being of those using these advancements in their everyday lives. A large part of the psychological well-being of an individual is their self-esteem or how they view themselves in either a positive or negative light. While some studies see changes in technology, especially those in communication, as positives which can bridge the gaps or social deficits in those who are less inclined to speak to others face-to-face or to allow others to share more personal information, strengthening preexisting bonds (Gonzales 2015) this is not always the case. Some actually find that this electronic communication can harm the well-being of those using it, saying that it threatens their interpersonal relationships or even general life satisfaction (Twenge, Martin, & Campbell 2018) and could even lead to addiction or problematic behaviors or use patterns in technologies such as video games (Lemmens, Valkenberg, & Gentile 2015). While there is this wide variety of findings across the numerous areas of research on technology and the impacts on users’ self-esteems this serves as a drive for psychologists to continue research in hopes to find understandings of this advancing field and, eventually, be able to explain the effects of the technology and avoid those which prove to be negative while enhancing the positives.
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This website will take a deeper dive into the various facets of technology including cellphones, video games, and social media platforms in attempts to understand how each of these can impact one’s self-esteem either positively or negatively. Throughout this website various resources are provided in order to supplement the information provided and further the understanding of this complex realm of psychology. As this is a relatively new area of psychology has even changed within the decade (Twenge, Martin, & Campbell 2018). There are some findings consistent across all forms of technology through various studies. These include things such as factors which can be linked to addictions, which mainly includes the individual being introverted or having low self-esteem (Kanat-Mayom et. al. 2018). While directionality of a relationship cannot be inferred due to few of the studies being true experiments (https://www.simplypsychology.org/experimental-method.html) and, instead, tend to be correlational studies, simply showing a relationship that is not definitively causal. That being said, the relationships which were found between self-esteem and other, secondary, factors and the use of modern technology can be seen as rather interesting and set the stage for future research to be done. These researches, using the findings in research such as the articles used in creating this website, could look for true cause and effect relationships between the various uses and differences in the plethora of technological advances of today as well as in the future, and the psychological well-being of the person using them day in and day out. As such, these findings provide a framework for possible best-practices with each form of technology which can, in turn, improve upon one’s life. As was quoted by Sir Frances Bacon in his Famous philosophical writing “Meditations Sacrae and Human Philosophy” originally written in 1597 “Knowledge is Power” (Bacon 1900). Even centuries later this stands to be true, and when it comes to the ability to understand the technology that drives the world around us and how to use it in a way that is best for our own psychological well-being and without detriment to self-esteem, we could use all the power we can get.
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