Cyberpsychology examines how cybertechnologies influence the spectrum of our human behavior. “Every new technology offers an opportunity to ask if it serves our human purposes.” ~ Founder and current director of MIT’s Initiative on Technology and Self, Sherry Turkle Much like other psychological science domains, the field of cyberpsychology is a rich, robust, and growing area of study. For those interested in learning more about this burgeoning arena, this…

With close to 2 billion websites live on the Internet, findability online depends on a constant adherence to what is often referred to as “SEO best practices” (specific to organic versus paid search). …

In The Social Animal (2018), authors Aronson and Aronson delve into reasons behind our desires to like, love, and connect with another. The writers start their Chapter 8 with a statement; one acutely relevant to users of social networks in particular: “People want to belong and feel important; we want…

This meticulous dissection of Prevagen® commercials underscores just how brands leverage image and narrative psychology, as well as elements of behavior design, to create monetizeable storytelling. If you’re into commercialized brand storytelling, advertising design (with behavioral design contexts), and the realms of image and narrative psychology, this super deep-dive and…

In Finding Truth in Fiction: What Fan Culture Gets Right–And Why It’s Good to Get Lost in a Story (Dill-Shackleford & Vinney, 2020)— a book about the rich value we derive from consuming fictional stories— the authors focus on actors, their roles, and the social psychology of narrative person perception. …

Kids’ media consumption choices influence their identity development from early childhood through adolescence In reading Chapter 6 of Finding Truth in Fiction: What Fan Culture Gets Right–And Why It’s Good to Get Lost in a Story by Dill-Shackleford and Vinney (2020), a chapter that covers identity development from early childhood…

Psychology Theorists, Preferred Methods, and Criticisms Psychology started as the study of consciousness and each theorist had a different definition and preferred methods. This post explores how these theories conceptualize consciousness, offers a mention of preferred methods, and includes one criticism of each. Wilhelm Wundt (1832–1920) During the mid-19th century, the observation of consciousness was one not viewed as a serious scientific activity (Danziger, 1980b, p. 243); a Kantian-inspired way of thinking, which centered around the notion that the mind could not be subjected to quantification and experimentation (Pickren &…

A cursory search online for the definition of the word enthusiast results in some of the following descriptions: → a person who is highly interested in and involved with a particular activity or subject; → a person filled with enthusiasm: such as one who is ardently attached to a cause…

Worldwide social media usage statistic numbers grow exponentially year to year, and such has been the upward trend now for more than a decade. Explosive social media usage growth means that billions of people throughout the globe regularly frequent social media sites to connect with friends, peers, and family many…