Essay about The Psychology of Social Media - 1716 Words

Living in the 21st century requires one to stay current with latest technological advancements. Ever since the development of social networking sites, people are now able to create a carefully-crafted identity for themselves. This has led psychologists to question how well these online personalities match the person in front of the computer. The innovative branch of media psychology looks into how social networking portrays individuals and initiates human interactions within a society. A basic question is how well are people able to get to know each other through social networking sites? In a research study, Psychster Inc. explored characteristics of profile pictures and their association with impression. Using a specially designed†¦show more content†¦Gosling polled the group using a standard Five Factor model personality test which measured extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability, and openness to new experiences (Steele, Evans, Green, 2008). Then researchers rated the same subjects based solely on their Facebook profiles, which usually included pictures and lists of interests. The researchers found a correlation between assessments in four of the five categories. Gosling was not surprised that emotional stability was the only attribute showing no significant results across personal and online assessments because it is a quality that people are good at concealing across most media (Wilson, 2007). Although the â€Å"extroversion† category showed the highest correlation, research suggests that openness to new experience is perhaps exhibited better online than in person. Judith Donath, an associate professor at the Media Laboratory at MIT who reviewed Goslings research, divides the content of social networking sites into signals and unintended cues. According to Donath, Facebook users do not intend to share super personal information on their profiles. People who happen to share a personal status update might be perceived as over- sharing without meaning to (Wilson, 2007). According to psychologist John Suler and his idea of â€Å"The Online Disinhibition Effect†, some people, while online, self-disclose or act differently than they wouldShow MoreRelatedThe Effects Of Social Media On Psychology2508 Words   |  11 PagesIf Freud Had a Cell Phone: The Usefulness of Social Media in Psychology It’s two o’clock in the morning and the telephone rings, startling the psychologist. Groggily, she answers not knowing who is on the other end. As the doctor listens carefully to the voice on the phone, she realizes that it is one that is all too familiar. It’s one her patients. This patient has been dealing with some depression issues and is ready to do something drastic. The psychologist talks calmly with the patient for severalRead MoreSocial Media And Organizational Psychology At Harvard University1374 Words   |  6 Pagesof the group as well. 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