The disinhibition effect in online communication
Theme: Mental health in a digital age
Type of research: Quantitative
Description:
Online communication enables individuals to interact and build relationships in ways distinct from traditional face-to-face communication. According to the Social Identity Model of Deindividuation (SIDE), reduced social cues and anonymity contribute to a shift between personal and social identity. In such situations, an individual's social identity becomes more prominent than their personal identity. In simpler terms, individuals are less likely to perceive themselves as individuals and tend to behave as if they are anonymous. Consequently, when social identity takes precedence, individuals are more inclined to feel comfortable taking actions that deviate from social norms. This decrease in an individual's concern over how they are perceived by others is termed the disinhibition effect.
The online disinhibition effect is not inherently positive or negative; instead, it is associated with either positive or negative consequences. Negative outcomes linked to the online disinhibition effect include an increase in negative comments on online platforms, instances of cyberbullying, and problematic Internet use. Positive consequences can be exemplified by increased communication and self-disclosure among individuals characterized as high in shyness, introversion, or loneliness.
In this assignment, students are partly going to do a validation of a newly developed online disinhibition scale. Besides, they will explore various issues associated with online disinhibition effect.