Psychological Aspects of Communication Technology

Catalog description

Investigation of psychological aspects of human-computer interaction (HCI) and computer-mediated communication (CMC). COMM 517 Psychological Aspects of Communication (3) This graduate seminar is devoted to the investigation of psychological aspects of human-computer interaction (HCI) and computer-mediated communication (CMC). Theories and empirical research from communication, psychology, and human-computer studies will be used to explore social responses to communication technologies; uses and effects of unique technological features such as interactivity and navigability upon individual users' thoughts, emotions, and behaviors; nature and dynamics of interpersonal and group interaction when mediated by technology; how issues of "source" and "self" are altered by computer-based media; and psychological consequences of internet use, such as addiction and depression. A primary goal of the seminar is to draw out, through readings, discussion and empirical exploration, fundamental theoretical and practical implications of these lines of research for interface design, psychological processing of mediated form and content, human-web site interaction, and internet-based mass, group and interpersonal communication.