Online Personality & Behaviour
Because the topic for research is so broad, I new immediately that because of the personal take I wanted to do on the project, I could narrow down my research into specific fields. Firstly, I wanted to look at how we are perceived in terms of personality, and what we do online that we wouldn't offline.
My first idea came from the split between offline and online. I feel that we show ourselves to various different degrees on each platform we use. Instagram is an idealised situation of what we choose to show to someone, Snapchat is in the moment, less perfected, and Twitter can be live thoughts and feelings. These are all different degrees to which we show an insight into our lives. I came to the conclusion straight away that a lot can be hidden from social media and platforms that we may be feeling in real life. It's quite the norm to hide if you're feeling upset, or you're not that perfect idealised persona that everyone seeks.
However through the internet I think you can develop an intimacy you wouldn't in real life. Because of the lack of emotional pull a computer, or screen provides, you're able to be a bit more confident online and share details you wouldn't normally because of how you're unable to see someone physically. I think this has changed how we also interact with people - in Tribes, for example, they require long term engagement between a certain amount of people. The internet and screen provides more of a personalised relationship with someone without giving the emotional response that a real life person would.
I can link this back to myself very easily. It's far easier for me to talk to someone online than it in real life - it's quicker, I can communicate myself in a more professional manner, and say what I really want to say without the worry of an immediate response - or an emotional one. It requires a lot more intimacy to talk to someone in real life than it does online, which means I can communicate my point across a lot easier, helping me in the long run.
"Studies have found that day-to-day interactions are based almost entirely on nonverbal communication. When we interact with others, we are continuously processing wordless signals like facial expressions, tone of voice, gestures, body language, eye contact, and even the physical distance between us and them."
Without this on the internet, the lack of nonverbal communication can also cause misinterpretation, but save the emotional intimacy between two people. I've found there are issues with both sides - many a time it's allowed me to say things I wouldn't normally say, but also read things the wrong way.
I want this project to be something that is personalised but also is relatable to a lot of people. Several friends; online friends, people I've come across feel the same way along the lines of they aren't exactly who they say or perceive themselves to be on the internet. I wanted to address this, making people feel they aren't alone in how they feel - an emotive piece. We often choose to show ourselves as happy and relaxed when in fact we may not be, because it's the easiest option.
"These platforms help people project any image they want; they can be whoever and whatever they want to be. Without the ability to receive nonverbal cues, their audiences are none the wiser. "
http://www.dailydot.com/via/evolution-digital-online-behavior/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/behind-online-behavior/201506/the-psychology-web-browsing
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/behind-online-behavior/201408/the-psychology-behind-social-media-interactions
http://www.internetsociety.org/sites/default/files/Online%20Identity-An%20Overview.pdf
