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THE POWERFUL PSYCHOLOGICAL PULL OF TEXT-BASED VIRTUAL COMMUNICATIONS
Clearly, we love our keyboard-facilitated communication systems (Yoffe, 2009). But why? Why do we “speak” more easily—and more candidly—when we type and then tap “enter” or “send”? What cyberforce loosens our inhibitions when we communicate in cyberspace?
Researchers who study this broad- ranging, pervasive preference for virtualized text-based communication methods have noted the existence of a phenomenon they refer to as The Disinhibition Effect (Suler, 2004).
Our clients (and we therapists) who
use digitized messaging systems— particularly those that enable anonymity—cannot help but be affected by this psychological phenomenon
that (among other things) loosens our inhibitions.
The following describes seven attributes of The Disinhibition Effect that encourage our affinity for online chatter and influence our personalities—for better or for worse. See if you recognize your clients (or yourself) in the following paragraphs.
1. THE LURE OF IMMEDIACY
Cell phones, tablets, and laptops are always with us. If we have an idea, if
we think of a question, or if something unusual happens, we don’t want to
wait until later to share it. We want to do it now (O’Sullivan, Hunt, & Lippert, 2004). As a result of our shorter attention spans, our brains nag at us to divert our attention from work, class, dinner conversation, board meetings,
or sermons to check tweets, texts, posts, and updates (Dunbar, 2010; Foreman, 2010). We have the capability of doing
it efficiently. We have the technology
to send it immediately. So, we do! This concept—called immediacy—taps into our abilities to switch attention quickly and urges us to check in and connect even when there is no compelling reason to do so (Hafner, 2009; Turkle, 2011). We’ve become so skilled at sending and receiving messages in multiple forums on multiple devices that we actually
Researchers who interviewed online counseling participants reported that the participants felt empowered to address sensitive subjects they would never have addressed in person
enjoy the challenge of staying current and keeping up our end of things (Gibbs, 2012). And with our empathic responses blunted, we may prefer our devices to the people sitting next to us.
2. THE LUXURY OF CHOICE
Many of us remember times when we wanted to make a comment or take a side on a particular issue, but refrained from doing so because of possible repercussions. Surveillance cameras often record the behaviors of people who did not want their identities connected to their behaviors. We recognize the option of anonymity to be a luxury that is unavailable in face-to-face encounters.
However, there are countless online forums which allow (and even welcome) anonymous interactions. Baym (2010) and Fantz (2008) provide evidence of the enormous attraction of anonymous forums. Virtual worlds filled with avatars, chat rooms, blog posts, and many other types of virtual forums permit and encourage total anonymity among members of those cultures (Chen & Tzeng, 2010).
Surprisingly, Kaplan Wade, Conteh,
& Martz (2011), Fantz (2008), and Haberstroh, Duffey, Evans, Gee, & Trepal (2007) report that in forums where complete anonymity is not possible (such as in reputable online counseling sessions where client
names and ages have been verified), clients assert they still perceive online interactions to offer a comfortable, desirable form of anonymity. In fact, researchers who interviewed online counseling participants reported that the participants felt empowered to address sensitive subjects they would never have addressed in person (Warren, 2009).
For example, victims of rape were more likely to initiate dialogs about their assaults in online counseling sessions than they were to seek help from a counselor face-to-face. Rape victims report that their feelings of shame
were much more manageable when face-to-face contact was not part of the counseling equation (Kaplan, et al., 2011; Knaevelssrud & Maercker, 2007).
Cyberbullies intent on making injurious comments and even illegal threats to innocent recipients find anonymous forums appealing, too (Lanier, 2011; Lea, O’Shea, Fung, & Spears, 1992). The option of anonymity appeals to all personality types.
3. THE CLOAK OF INVISIBILITY
A number of virtual forums permit us to enter and observe other participants undetected. Often referred to as lurkers, these invisible onlookers have the freedom to attend to the conversations of others without making themselves known (Fantz, 2008). In chat rooms,
for example, these ghostly visitors
may make one or two short visits, or
28 FAMILY THERAPY MAGAZINE