PSY 218 PSYCHOLOGY OF THE INTERNET
This course provides a comprehensive look into the current understanding of Internet psychology. What do we know about how people behave in cyberspace? Since the inception of the Internet, society has witnessed how the Internet can be harnessed by those with darker motives (e.g., terrorists, sexual predators, hackers), but has also seen a blossoming of online romances, the formation of deep friendships and the harnessing of the Internet for positive social change. This course will examine how the Internet environment changes the way we think, behave and take responsibility. Topics covered will include identity, virtual communities, privacy, liberty and trust in Cyberspace, romantic relationships, social support groups, conflict, e-business, globalization, and the digital divide.