Posted by Dr. Bob on October 5, 2000, at 10:09:11
Hi, everyone,
I belong to a group of therapists who are discussing the use of the Internet with patients. Some "working hypotheses" have been developed, and we'd like to know what you think about them. The originals are at:
http://www.rider.edu/users/suler/psycyber/workinghyp.html
I've selected, adapted, and regrouped them with Psycho-Babble specifically in mind. The numbers in parentheses refer to the original hypotheses. Any comments? Thanks!
Bob
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Hypotheses about Online Text Communication
A. Characteristics of online text communication
1. A person with a history of chaotic relationships, physical trauma, or strong feelings of shame or guilt tends to experience online text communication as safe. (1.3, 1.4, 2.4)
2. A person's writing style reflects aspects of their personality, and changes in it reflect changes in their thoughts and feelings. (6.1)
3. The "handle" a person chooses reflects aspects of their personality. (6.4)
4. If a person has a web site, it reflects aspects of their personality. Having others visit it and visiting those of others is emotionally significant. (7.6)
B. Positive aspects
1. The act of writing fosters self-expression, self-reflection, and cognitive restructuring. (1.2)
2. Online text communication that does not take place in "real time" enhances impulse control, self-reflection, and cognitive assimilation. (4.1)
3. Receiving online text communications from others can promote the development of steady, supportive, reality-testing, ego-building "internal voices". (1.7, 4.4)
4. The opportunity to send online text communications to others, even before --- or without -- any replies, can help a person feel the others are available. (4.3)
5. A person can use online text communication as a way to explore and experiment with new behaviors or different aspects of their identity. What they learn or rehearse online can be carried into their offline life. (7.2, 7.3)
6. Online text communication can desensitize a person to social interaction and build social skills. (7.4, 7.5)
7. Access to online information tends to be empowering and transformative. (7.10)
C. Negative aspects
1. Online text communication is more subject to "simple" misunderstandings and conscious and unconscious distortions of meaning or intent. (2.1)
D. Potentially positive or negative aspects
1. With online text communication, a person can be less inhibited and -- deliberately or not -- more open about aspects of themselves, including their "true self". (2.2, 6.2, 7.1)
2. With online text communication, a person can be less inhibited and -- deliberately or not -- more likely to act out. (2.2)
3. With online text communication, a person can be -- deliberately or not -- more guarded about aspects of themselves, including their "true self". (6.3, 8.4)
4. Ambivalence about intimacy can be expressed as a preference for online text communication and its blend of openness and distance. (2.3)
5. Saved text can reduce errors in recall -- or be taken out of context, distorting its meaning. (3.2, 3.3)
6. With online text communication, others try to help more quickly by giving advice or problem-solving. (11.2)
E. Online support groups
1. Online support groups benefit from having rules about appropriate behavior, effective enforcement of those rules, and knowledgeable and confident leaders. (10.1)
2. Online support groups tend to be less cohesive. (10.3)
3. In online support groups, a person can explore and experiment with different "identities" at the same time. (10.7)
F. Therapy
1. Differences in status are less apparent in online text communication. Clinicians tend to be perceived less as authorities and more as consultants or even "twins". (11.4)
poster:Dr. Bob
thread:844
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20000813/msgs/844.html