Foundations of Cyberpsychology. 3 credits, 3 contact hours

Catalog description

Prerequisites: ENGL 102 with a grade of C or higher, and one History and Humanities GER 200 level course with a grade of C or higher. This course introduces students to the study of human thought, emotion, and behavior in online and virtual environments. Students examine how digital contexts shape identity, communication, and social interaction through topics such as online self-presentation, virtual relationships, personality expression, the transfer of identity to technology, and problematic Internet use. Emphasis is placed on understanding the psychological mechanisms underlying digital engagement and how cyberspace influences perception, motivation, and group behavior. The course also addresses issues such as online disinhibition, anonymity, and the blurring of real and virtual selves. This course satisfies the three-credit 300-level GER in History and Humanities.