CYBER PSYCHOLOGY
Complete Finals Study Notes
Weeks 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 9 · 10
① Weekly Notes ② All Studies ③ Short Answer Qs ④ Model Answers
"Digital environments do not change human nature, but they amplify and reshape how it is
expressed."
, SECTION 1: WEEKLY NOTES
WEEK 1: INTRODUCTION TO CYBER PSYCHOLOGY
What is Cyber Psychology?
• Application of psychological theories and principles to digital environments
• Studies how technology shapes behaviour, cognition, and social interaction
• Key areas: identity construction online, behavioural changes due to anonymity, cognitive changes from
technology, social relationships mediated by platforms
Core Insight
Technology is NOT passive — it actively shapes human psychology
Foundational Concepts (Week 1 framework)
Context of Tech Use Online self-presentation
Dependent factors: motivations, individual differences, Goal-governed and audience-targeted
norms
Self-concept Context collapse: multiple audiences see one
presentation
Three key aspects: self-esteem, self-report, self-image Goffman: Performed self depends on context and
space; Loss of "face monitoring" online
Self-Discrepancy Theory (Higgins): Actual / Ideal /
Ought selves
WEEK 2: RESEARCH METHODS + ONLINE SELF (PART 1)
Research Methods
Measurement: converting observations into numerical values. Two critical concepts:
• Reliability → consistency of results (like a thermometer giving same reading)
• Validity → whether you are measuring what you intend to measure
Types of Research
Observational External Validity
• Observe behaviour naturally • Can results generalise beyond the study?
• Issues: Hawthorne effect (people change behaviour • Depends on: good measurement + representative
when watched), observer bias sample
, Correlational Sampling
• Measures relationship between variables • Random sample = ideal but rare
• CANNOT infer causation • Convenience sample = common but biased
• Example: Facebook use ↔ self-esteem
Online Self — Part 1
• Online environments allow control over identity and selective self-presentation
• Key features: anonymity, asynchronicity, reduced social cues → more curated identity, less accountability
Arklis Self-Presentation Strategies (from notes)
• Acquisitive self-presentation → Ingratiate / Gain
• Protective self-presentation → Reject / Avoid
Jones's strategies:
– Ingratiation — liking; Self-promotion — blocking harm; Intimidation — scaring; Exemplification — sacrificing;
Supplication — suffers
Snyder's Self-Monitoring Theory
• High self-monitoring vs. Low self-monitoring
• Context collapse — multiple audiences present at once, complicating authentic presentation
WEEK 3: ONLINE SELF (PART 2) — Identity, Cues & Disinhibition
Selective Self-Presentation
• Reduces gap between Actual Self and Ideal Self
• Only temporary — does not permanently change real-life behaviour
• Identity Feedback Loop: Public identity claims create social pressure to act consistently (e.g., declaring "gym
person" → actually going to gym)
Higgins — Multiple Selves (from handwritten notes)
• Two viewpoints through which self is perceived: (1) own viewpoint, (2) viewpoint of generalised others
(supervisors, family)
• Three self-states: Actual (who you are), Own Ideal (who you want to be), Other Ideal (who others want you to
be)
• Self-Discrepancy Theory (SDT): individuals motivated to reduce discrepancies to reduce discomfort and
dissatisfaction
– Actual/Own-Ideal discrepancy = disappointment / failing one's idea of who one could be
– Actual/Other-Ideal discrepancy = shame, anxiety, embarrassment
Selective Media Sharing (Johnson & Ranzini)
• CMC (computer-mediated comm.) + social media affordances → self-presentation through new ways of
interacting with content
• Extended self-concept (Belk '88): online sharing of digital content = imagined community + aggregated
extended self in digital way
• Online users seek to communicate their identity into "reduced cues" — each message becomes self-disclosing
Complete Finals Study Notes
Weeks 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 9 · 10
① Weekly Notes ② All Studies ③ Short Answer Qs ④ Model Answers
"Digital environments do not change human nature, but they amplify and reshape how it is
expressed."
, SECTION 1: WEEKLY NOTES
WEEK 1: INTRODUCTION TO CYBER PSYCHOLOGY
What is Cyber Psychology?
• Application of psychological theories and principles to digital environments
• Studies how technology shapes behaviour, cognition, and social interaction
• Key areas: identity construction online, behavioural changes due to anonymity, cognitive changes from
technology, social relationships mediated by platforms
Core Insight
Technology is NOT passive — it actively shapes human psychology
Foundational Concepts (Week 1 framework)
Context of Tech Use Online self-presentation
Dependent factors: motivations, individual differences, Goal-governed and audience-targeted
norms
Self-concept Context collapse: multiple audiences see one
presentation
Three key aspects: self-esteem, self-report, self-image Goffman: Performed self depends on context and
space; Loss of "face monitoring" online
Self-Discrepancy Theory (Higgins): Actual / Ideal /
Ought selves
WEEK 2: RESEARCH METHODS + ONLINE SELF (PART 1)
Research Methods
Measurement: converting observations into numerical values. Two critical concepts:
• Reliability → consistency of results (like a thermometer giving same reading)
• Validity → whether you are measuring what you intend to measure
Types of Research
Observational External Validity
• Observe behaviour naturally • Can results generalise beyond the study?
• Issues: Hawthorne effect (people change behaviour • Depends on: good measurement + representative
when watched), observer bias sample
, Correlational Sampling
• Measures relationship between variables • Random sample = ideal but rare
• CANNOT infer causation • Convenience sample = common but biased
• Example: Facebook use ↔ self-esteem
Online Self — Part 1
• Online environments allow control over identity and selective self-presentation
• Key features: anonymity, asynchronicity, reduced social cues → more curated identity, less accountability
Arklis Self-Presentation Strategies (from notes)
• Acquisitive self-presentation → Ingratiate / Gain
• Protective self-presentation → Reject / Avoid
Jones's strategies:
– Ingratiation — liking; Self-promotion — blocking harm; Intimidation — scaring; Exemplification — sacrificing;
Supplication — suffers
Snyder's Self-Monitoring Theory
• High self-monitoring vs. Low self-monitoring
• Context collapse — multiple audiences present at once, complicating authentic presentation
WEEK 3: ONLINE SELF (PART 2) — Identity, Cues & Disinhibition
Selective Self-Presentation
• Reduces gap between Actual Self and Ideal Self
• Only temporary — does not permanently change real-life behaviour
• Identity Feedback Loop: Public identity claims create social pressure to act consistently (e.g., declaring "gym
person" → actually going to gym)
Higgins — Multiple Selves (from handwritten notes)
• Two viewpoints through which self is perceived: (1) own viewpoint, (2) viewpoint of generalised others
(supervisors, family)
• Three self-states: Actual (who you are), Own Ideal (who you want to be), Other Ideal (who others want you to
be)
• Self-Discrepancy Theory (SDT): individuals motivated to reduce discrepancies to reduce discomfort and
dissatisfaction
– Actual/Own-Ideal discrepancy = disappointment / failing one's idea of who one could be
– Actual/Other-Ideal discrepancy = shame, anxiety, embarrassment
Selective Media Sharing (Johnson & Ranzini)
• CMC (computer-mediated comm.) + social media affordances → self-presentation through new ways of
interacting with content
• Extended self-concept (Belk '88): online sharing of digital content = imagined community + aggregated
extended self in digital way
• Online users seek to communicate their identity into "reduced cues" — each message becomes self-disclosing
