An Introduction to Cyberpsychology

Cyberpsychology is a relatively new field within applied psychology, although there is now a growing library of research and writing examining the topic. As an area of study, it assesses how we interact with others using technology, how we can develop technology to best fit our requirements, and how our behaviour and psychological states are influenced by technology. The most commonly studied technology in cyberpsychology research is the Internet, although the area considers human interactions with many devices, including mobile computing, games consoles, virtual reality and artificial intelligence. This chapter provides a brief overview of some areas of research in cyberpsychology, including a short introduction to each of the chapters that follow.