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The Internet and cyberspace are still relatively new occurrences in our lives, yet they already exert powerful influences over us. Research in South Africa is still limited and this is an attempt to begin correcting our lack of knowledge in the field. The study was conducted entirely in cyberspace. E-mail was used to gather information from six participants, who where recruited from the Quadriplegic Association of South Africa website. It is a qualitative examination of the unique experiences of spinal cord injured people, who are regularly interacting in cyber-communities with other injured people and people without injuries. The study attempts to describe the role that computer-mediated communication and cyber-communities play in the spinal cord injured person's self-concept. The information was collected in unstructured, asynchronous interviews, which were e-mailed on a regular basis. The participants included one woman and five men, with a mix of quadriplegic and paraplegic injuries. The questions revolved around two central themes: 1) the participant's experiences of other people offline and 2) their experiences of people online. These experiences were identified and grouped into 14 different categories. The categories were then integrated with the literature on cyberspace and self-concept theory. Although the participant group was small, their experiences were richly illustrated and often confirmed previous results by other cyberspace researchers. Essential to this study was the embodied isolation that participants experienced offline, which evoked a number of negative emotions and consequently affected the self-concept and self-esteem. Online the participants were often able to experience a release from isolation and felt empowered by the expansion in their social support Networks and the practical information they gained. In some cases self-esteem improved. In general, more skills and concepts were integrated, increasing the complexity of the self-concept. Applications of this study's results include greater rehabilitative speed and increased continued support for the spinal cord injured. The online spinal cord injured person can moderate her/his reintroduction to uninjured social circles. In certain situations, adapting to the new injured self-concept may become easier. / Dissertation (MA (Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Psychology / unrestricted

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The most commonly searched for topic on the internet revolve around sexuality. These searches, known as online sexual pursuits, may be influenced by one’s personality traits, such as sexual sensation seeking (Kalichman et al., 1994), which has been associated with various sexual risk behaviours and could increase one’s chances of contracting sexually transmitted diseases and infections. It is therefore vital for researchers to examine the association between sexual sensation seeking and the internet. This study collected data from 336 participants who responded to instruments on an online survey which consisted of a demographic questionnaire, the Sexual Sensation Seeking Scale (Kalichman et al., 1994), the Sexual Compulsivity Scale (Kalichman & Rompa, 1995), the Big Five Inventory (John, Naumann, & Soto, 2008), the Real Me Questionnaire (Amichai-Humburger, Wainapel, & Fox, 2002), Klein’s Sexual Orientation Grid (Klein, 1993), and items associated with sexual risk behaviour (Mashegoane, Moalusi, Ngoepe, & Peltzer, 2002), online deception (Capri & Gorski, 2006; Stieger , Eichinger, & Honeder, 2009), and internet use. Results from multiple regression analyses indicated that extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, sexual compulsivity, sexual risk behaviour, and online self-disclosure were statistically significant (p < .05) predictors of sexual sensation seeking. The study used product-term regression analysis to examine the influence that time spent on the internet has on sexual sensation seeking and its relationship with the statistical predictors thereof. Three distinct third variables were used, namely, hours spent on the internet for work purpose (work hours), hours spent on the internet associated with online sexual pursuits (sexual hours), and hours spent on the internet for personal purposes (personal hours). Through the use of product-term regression analyses I was able to show that work hours as a third variable moderated the relationship between extraversion and sexual sensation seeking; work hours indirectly influenced sexual sensation seeking through sexual compulsivity; and that work hours as a third variable moderated the relationship between online self-disclosure and sexual sensation seeking. Furthermore, sexual hours as a third variable moderated the relationship between sexual compulsivity and sexual sensation seeking. Finally, I have shown that, within the sample, personal hours as a third variable moderated the relationship between sexual compulsivity and sexual sensation seeking; personal hours indirectly influenced sexual sensation seeking through sexual risk behaviour; and personal hours indirectly influenced sexual sensation seeking through online self-disclosure. It thus seems that time spent online influences sexual sensation seeking. It is advised that internet use policies be put in place to establish and maintain a professional culture within the workplace, and to ensure that job performance is consistently met. Internet software packages may be used to identify and report unauthorized online activity, and monitor hours spent online in order to identify individuals who may require treatment with regards to problematic internet use, sexual compulsivity, and inappropriate sexual behaviour in the workplace. Furthermore, the results of this study highlight the internet’s influence on the relationship between sexual compulsivity and sexual sensation seeking, and as such, may be of interest to sex therapists and counsellors in the field of hypersexuality. Finally, corporations, university officials, and youth and sexual health organisations may want to create awareness and provide educational resources with regards to the health risks associated with exploring sexuality via the internet. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Temas wat rondom seksualiteit gefokus is, is die mees algemeenste onderwerp wat op die internet nagevors word. Hierdie internet soeke, naamlik aanlyn seksuele strewe, word deels beïnvloed deur persoonlikheids-eienskappe, soos seksuele sensasiesoeke. Verder, seksuele sensasiesoeke is geassosieer met ‘n wye reeks riskante seksuele gedrag en kan die kanse tot seksueel oordraagbare siektes en infeksies verhoog. Hieruit volg dus die noodsaaklikheid dat navorsers die assosiasie moet ondersoek tussen seksuele sensasiesoeke en die internet. In ‘n aanlyn-opname is data van 336 respondente versamel deur die gebruik van instrumente soos 'n demografiese vraelys, Seksuele Sensasiesoekende Skaal (Kalichman et al., 1994), Seksuele Kompulsiwiteit Skaal (Kalichman & Rompa, 1995), Groot-Vyf Inventaris (John, Naumann, & Soto, 2008), Ware Ek Vraelys (Amichai-Humburger, Wainapel, & Fox, 2002), Klein se Seksuele Oriëntasie Rooster (Klein, 1993), en items wat verband hou met riskante seksuele gedrag (Mashegoane, Moalusi, Ngoepe, & Peltzer, 2002), aanlynmisleiding (Capri & Gorski, 2006; Stieger , Eichinger, & Honeder, 2009), en internetgebruik. Resultate van 'n meervoudige regressie-analise het aangedui dat ekstraversie, pligsgetrouheid, welgevalligheid, neurotisisme, seksuele kompulsiwiteit, riskante seksuele gedrag, en aanlyn self bekendmaking statisties beduidende (p < .05) voorspellers van seksuele sensasiesoeke is. Hierdie studie het produk-term regressie-analise (toets vir interaksie met behulp van meervoudige regressie) gebruik om die derde veranderlik van tyd wat op die internet gespandeer word te analiseer met betrekking tot die verhouding tussen seksuele sensasiesoeke en die statistiese voorspellers van seksuele sensasiesoek. Die derde veranderlike bestaan uit drie verskillende kategorieë naamlik, ure wat aanlyn gespandeer is vir werksdoeleindes (werksure), ure wat op die internet gespandeer is wat verband hou met aanlyn seksuele strewe (seksuele ure), en ure wat aanlyn vir persoonlike doeleindes gespandeer is (persoonlike ure). Resultate dui daarop neer dat werksure die verhouding tussen ekstraversie en seksuele sensasiesoeke gemodereer het, werksure het seksuele sensasiesoeke indirek gebeïnvloed deur seksuele kompulsiwiteit, en dat werksure die verhouding tussen aanlyn selfbekendmaking en seksuele sensasiesoeke gemodereer het. Verder het seksuele ure die verhouding tussen seksuele kompulsiwiteit en seksuele sensasiesoeke gemodereer. Persoonlike ure het die verhouding tussen seksuele kompulsiwiteit en seksuele sensasiesoeke gemodereer, persoonlike ure het seksuele sensasiesoeke indirek gebeïnvloed deur riskante seksuele gedrag, en persoonlike ure het seksuele sensasiesoeke indirek beïnvloed deur aanlyn selfbekendmaking. Dit blyk derhalwe dat die tyd wat op die internet gespandeer word het 'n invloed op seksuele sensasiesoeke. Daar word voorgestel dat beperkende beleidsriglyne binne internetgeledere ingestel word ten einde ‘n professionele kultuur binne die werkplek te verseker. Internet-programme kan gebruik word om ongemagtigde internet-aktiwiteit te identifiseer en aan te meld, aanlyntyd te kontroleer en persone te identifiseer vir moontlike behandeling vir internetverwante probleme, seksuele kompulsiwiteit en ontoepaslike seksuele gedrag binne die werkplek. Voorts fokus hierdie studie op die invloed van die internet met betrekking tot die verhouding tussen seksuele kompulsiwiteit en seksuele sensasiesoeke, en kan van beduidende belang wees vir seksterapeute en beraders wat spesialiseer in die veld van hiperseksualiteit. Ten slotte skep hierdie studie ‘n platform vir organisasies, universiteite, jeug- en seksuele gesondheidsorganisasies om bewustheid en programme te bevorder wat die gesondheids-risiko’s aanspreek wat verband hou met seksuele strewe op die internet.

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis investigates the ways in which identity is established and represented on the Internet. Through detailed case studies of different Internet sites, I examine the changing parameters of these concepts, and indeed of our concept of 'reality' itself. I then undertake a detailed reading of a number of films that represent the Internet as an integral part of their narrative. I make use, but also critique, postmodern understandings of identity and representation. Existing postmodern theories of identity and representation cannot fully account for the way Internet identity functions and the Internet interacts with other media and offline life. New analyses are required to explain the interactions between these concepts. This thesis uses the constructs of presence, performance, the body, and narrative to describe the way in which identity and representation function online, are represented in film and influence offline life. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis beskou die maniere waarop identiteit op die internet gevestig en oorgedra word. Ek ondersoek die veranderende parameters van hierdie konsepte deur uitgebreide gevallestudies van verskillende internetruimtes te doen, en bekyk ook ons opvatting van die werklikheid self. Voorts doen ek 'n deurtastende ondersoek na 'n aantal films wat die internet as 'n integrale rolspeler in die narratief voorstel. Ek maak gebruik van, maar beoordelook, postmodernistiese beskouings van identiteit en oordrag. Die bestaande postmodernistiese teorieë oor identiteit en oordrag kan nie volledig rekenskap gee van die wyse waarop die internet-identiteit funksioneer of hoe die internet op ander media en aftydse middele reageer nie. Nuwe ondersoeke is nodig om die wisselwerking tussen hierdie konsepte te verduidelik. Hierdie tesis gebruik die begrippe van aanwesigheid, optrede, hoofinhoud en narratief om die wyse waarop indentiteit en oordrag intyds funksioneer, in film oorgedra word en aftydse middele beïnvloed, te beskryf.

Leung, Wan Chi. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 103-111). / Abstracts in English and Chinese ; appendix in Chinese. / abstract --- p.i / 內容摘要 --- p.iii / Table of Contents --- p.V / Chapter Chapter I: --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Anti-drug Campaign in Hong Kong --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2 --- Harmful Messages on the Internet --- p.5 / Chapter 1.3 --- Theoretical Significance of Study --- p.6 / Chapter 1.4 --- Social implications of this study --- p.8 / Chapter Chapter II: --- Literature Review and Theoretical Framework --- p.10 / Chapter 2.1 --- Third-person effect and perception --- p.10 / Chapter 2.2 --- TPE and Antisocial Messages on the Internet --- p.12 / Chapter 2.3 --- First-person effect and perception --- p.17 / Chapter 2.4 --- Behavioral component of TPE --- p.22 / Chapter 2.5 --- Behavioral component of FPE --- p.27 / Chapter 2.6 --- Perceived effect on self and on others and behavioral consequences --- p.28 / Chapter 2.7 --- Anti-drug Rectifying Behaviors --- p.31 / Chapter Chapter III: --- Methods --- p.37 / Chapter 3.1 --- Data Collection --- p.37 / Chapter 3.2 --- Measurements of Key Variables --- p.39 / Chapter 3.3 --- Measurements of Control Variables --- p.45 / Chapter 3.4 --- Design of Questionnaires --- p.50 / Chapter Chapter IV: --- Findings --- p.52 / Chapter 4.1 --- Descriptive Statistics --- p.52 / Chapter 4.2 --- Hypotheses Testing --- p.55 / Chapter 4.3 --- Answers to Research Questions --- p.57 / Charts and Tables --- p.68 / Chapter Chapter V: --- Discussions and Conclusions --- p.78 / Chapter 5.1 --- TPE of online messages: antisocial and prosocial --- p.78 / Chapter 5.2 --- Perceived effects and behavioral intentions --- p.79 / Chapter 5.3 --- Control Variables --- p.87 / Chapter 5.4 --- Overall Regression Analysis --- p.90 / Chapter 5.5 --- Theoretical Contributions of this study --- p.92 / Chapter 5.6 --- Suggestions for Future Anti-youth-drug-abuse Policies in Hong Kong --- p.93 / Chapter 5.7 --- Limitations and Further Research Directions --- p.102 / Bibliography --- p.103 / Chapter Appendix: --- Questionnaire --- p.112

O adolescente é considerado um dos principais agentes de transformação social, um manancial de expectativas do futuro, atualizando a família e os que estão em seu entorno sobre o que se passa na sociedade. Atualmente, passa por experiências de extrema velocidade: acesso a uma quantidade de informações quase inesgotáveis e contatos imediatos, sem delimitação de fronteiras físicas, através da Internet. Esse recurso não só revolucionou as diferentes tecnologias, mas também mudou a configuração social em que vivemos, a forma como percebemos o mundo, como nos inserimos nele, e, principalmente, a nossa forma de ser. Em face dessas mudanças, que acontecem em tempo real, o computador conectado à Internet tornou-se para muitos um companheiro fiel de todas as horas, sobretudo para o adolescente, que parece usá-lo como recurso indispensável aos seus contatos com o outro, com o mundo. A contemporaneidade tem marcas que são comuns a todos os sujeitos. No entanto, a experiência do adolescente em seu processo de transição em um mundo de extrema velocidade tem sido marcada pela indefinição de projetos futuros, fugacidade, volatilidade, consumismo, entre outras questões que têm dificultado todo seu processo de amadurecimento. A insegurança, característica desse momento, é ainda realçada pelo desamparo, pela falta de referências, pela falta de continência e pela impossibilidade de criação de projetos para a vida adulta. Projeto de vida aqui tem um sentido mais abrangente, não diz respeito apenas a uma dimensão profissional, mas à inclusão do sujeito no universo de relações sociais e afetivas, com vistas à implementação de perspectiva para uma vida adulta. Tudo isso nos levou a indagar as possíveis repercussões do uso da Internet na criação dos projetos de vida dos adolescentes. Para tanto, buscou-se refletir especificamente sobre as seguintes questões: Quais os sentidos do uso da Internet para os adolescentes? Os adolescentes pesquisados se preocupam em criar projetos de vida? É possível relacionar o uso da Internet à elaboração de seus projetos de vida? Para dar conta dessa empreitada, foi realizado um estudo teórico baseado na referência winnicottiana, sobretudo nas noções de transicionalidade, ilusão, espaço potencial e experiência cultural. Participaram da pesquisa dez adolescentes do sexo feminino, com idade entre 16 e 17 anos, sendo todas estudantes da rede pública estadual da região metropolitana do Recife-PE, cursando entre o primeiro e o terceiro ano do ensino médio. Os dados coletados foram analisados priorizando-se a autopercepção das participantes e os resultados obtidos demonstraram que a Internet é um ambiente que pode ser usado criativamente, de acordo com as demandas do sujeito. Além disso, promove uma passagem do virtual ao real, na medida em que as adolescentes navegam em um mundo sem fronteiras, onde podem brincar, criar, ensaiar para o futuro e ver como acontece na vida real / The teenager is considered one of the main agents of social transformation, a wealth of expectations of the future, updating the family and those around them about what is happening in society. Currently, the youth goes through extremely speedy experiences: access to an almost inexhaustible amount of information and immediate contact, without demarcation of physical boundaries through the Internet. This feature not only revolutionized the different technologies, but also changed the social configuration in which we live, how we perceive the world how we are embedded in it, and, above all, our way of being. Given these changes, which occur in real time, the computer connected to the Internet has become for many a faithful companion of all hours, especially for teenagers who seem to use it as an indispensable resource for their contacts with others, with the world. The contemporary world has marks that are common to all subjects. However, the experience of adolescents in their transition into a world of extreme speed has been marked by uncertainty of future projects, fugacity, volatility, consumerism, among other issues that have hindered their entire process of maturity. Insecurity, characteristic of this time is further enhanced by helplessness, lack of references, lack of continence and the impossibility of creating projects for adult life. Life project here has a broader meaning, it concerns not only a professional dimension, but the inclusion of the subject in the universe of social and affective relationships with a view to implementing a vision for adult life. All this led us to investigate the possible effects of Internet use in the creation of projects of life of adolescents. To this end, we sought to reflect specifically on the following questions: What are the meanings of Internet use for teens? Are the teens surveyed concerned with creating life projects? It is possible to relate the use of the Internet to the development of their life projects? To realize this endeavor, we performed a theoretical study based on Winnicotts reference, especially the notions of transitionality, illusion, space potential and cultural experience. The participants were ten female adolescents, aged between 16 and 17 years, all students in public schools in the metropolitan area of Recife-PE, studying between the first and third year of high school. The collected data were analyzed with special emphasis on the participants self perception and the results showed that the Internet is an environment that can be used creatively, according to the demands of the subject. It also promotes a passage from virtual to real, to the extent that adolescents navigate in a world without borders, where they can play, create, rehearse for the future and see how it happens in real life

The impact of computer-mediated communication (CMC) on relational behavior is a topic of increasing interest to communication scholars (McQuillen, 2003; Tidwell & Walther, 2002). One of the most interesting issues that CMC raises concerns the impact of CMC on relational maintenance and development. Using dialectical theory, social exchange theory, social information processing theory, and the hyperpersonal perspective as theoretical frameworks, this study used quantitative and qualitative analyses to identity potential effects of CMC on relationships. Study 1 (n=317) examined the effects of CMC on relational closeness, satisfaction, and social support. Study 2 (n=196) explored the reasons individuals provide for privileging computer-mediated forms of communication, and the perceived effects of using CMC in relational communication. Results indicated that quality of CMC predicted increased perceptions of social support and relationship satisfaction. Results further suggested that CMC enabled participants to manage more effectively relational tensions of autonomy-connection and openness-closedness. Specifically, individuals used CMC to retain higher levels of conversational control, and to maintain greater numbers of relationships with decreased levels of investment. This paper concludes with a discussion of implications and directions for future research.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-01T18:08:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertacao_clecia_lorena.pdf: 1655433 bytes, checksum: f868f155cd354ef2e365d0c5402f0a5c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-07-10 / The teenager is considered one of the main agents of social transformation, a wealth of expectations of the future, updating the family and those around them about what is happening in society. Currently, the youth goes through extremely speedy experiences: access to an almost inexhaustible amount of information and immediate contact, without demarcation of physical boundaries through the Internet. This feature not only revolutionized the different technologies, but also changed the social configuration in which we live, how we perceive the world how we are embedded in it, and, above all, our way of being. Given these changes, which occur in real time, the computer connected to the Internet has become for many a faithful companion of all hours, especially for teenagers who seem to use it as an indispensable resource for their contacts with others, with the world. The contemporary world has marks that are common to all subjects. However, the experience of adolescents in their transition into a world of extreme speed has been marked by uncertainty of future projects, fugacity, volatility, consumerism, among other issues that have hindered their entire process of maturity. Insecurity, characteristic of this time is further enhanced by helplessness, lack of references, lack of continence and the impossibility of creating projects for adult life. Life project here has a broader meaning, it concerns not only a professional dimension, but the inclusion of the subject in the universe of social and affective relationships with a view to implementing a vision for adult life. All this led us to investigate the possible effects of Internet use in the creation of projects of life of adolescents. To this end, we sought to reflect specifically on the following questions: What are the meanings of Internet use for teens? Are the teens surveyed concerned with creating life projects? It is possible to relate the use of the Internet to the development of their life projects? To realize this endeavor, we performed a theoretical study based on Winnicott s reference, especially the notions of transitionality, illusion, space potential and cultural experience. The participants were ten female adolescents, aged between 16 and 17 years, all students in public schools in the metropolitan area of Recife-PE, studying between the first and third year of high school. The collected data were analyzed with special emphasis on the participants self perception and the results showed that the Internet is an environment that can be used creatively, according to the demands of the subject. It also promotes a passage from virtual to real, to the extent that adolescents navigate in a world without borders, where they can play, create, rehearse for the future and see how it happens in real life / O adolescente é considerado um dos principais agentes de transformação social, um manancial de expectativas do futuro, atualizando a família e os que estão em seu entorno sobre o que se passa na sociedade. Atualmente, passa por experiências de extrema velocidade: acesso a uma quantidade de informações quase inesgotáveis e contatos imediatos, sem delimitação de fronteiras físicas, através da Internet. Esse recurso não só revolucionou as diferentes tecnologias, mas também mudou a configuração social em que vivemos, a forma como percebemos o mundo, como nos inserimos nele, e, principalmente, a nossa forma de ser. Em face dessas mudanças, que acontecem em tempo real, o computador conectado à Internet tornou-se para muitos um companheiro fiel de todas as horas, sobretudo para o adolescente, que parece usá-lo como recurso indispensável aos seus contatos com o outro, com o mundo. A contemporaneidade tem marcas que são comuns a todos os sujeitos. No entanto, a experiência do adolescente em seu processo de transição em um mundo de extrema velocidade tem sido marcada pela indefinição de projetos futuros, fugacidade, volatilidade, consumismo, entre outras questões que têm dificultado todo seu processo de amadurecimento. A insegurança, característica desse momento, é ainda realçada pelo desamparo, pela falta de referências, pela falta de continência e pela impossibilidade de criação de projetos para a vida adulta. Projeto de vida aqui tem um sentido mais abrangente, não diz respeito apenas a uma dimensão profissional, mas à inclusão do sujeito no universo de relações sociais e afetivas, com vistas à implementação de perspectiva para uma vida adulta. Tudo isso nos levou a indagar as possíveis repercussões do uso da Internet na criação dos projetos de vida dos adolescentes. Para tanto, buscou-se refletir especificamente sobre as seguintes questões: Quais os sentidos do uso da Internet para os adolescentes? Os adolescentes pesquisados se preocupam em criar projetos de vida? É possível relacionar o uso da Internet à elaboração de seus projetos de vida? Para dar conta dessa empreitada, foi realizado um estudo teórico baseado na referência winnicottiana, sobretudo nas noções de transicionalidade, ilusão, espaço potencial e experiência cultural. Participaram da pesquisa dez adolescentes do sexo feminino, com idade entre 16 e 17 anos, sendo todas estudantes da rede pública estadual da região metropolitana do Recife-PE, cursando entre o primeiro e o terceiro ano do ensino médio. Os dados coletados foram analisados priorizando-se a autopercepção das participantes e os resultados obtidos demonstraram que a Internet é um ambiente que pode ser usado criativamente, de acordo com as demandas do sujeito. Além disso, promove uma passagem do virtual ao real, na medida em que as adolescentes navegam em um mundo sem fronteiras, onde podem brincar, criar, ensaiar para o futuro e ver como acontece na vida real