While online, some people self-disclose or act out more frequently or intensely than they would in person. This article explores six factors that interact with each other in creating this online disinhibition effect: dissociative anonymity, invisibility, asynchronicity, solipsistic introjection, dissociative imagination, and minimization of authority. Personality variables also will influence the extent of this disinhibition. Rather than thinking of disinhibition as the revealing of an underlying "true self," we can conceptualize it as a shift to a constellation within self-structure, involving clusters of affect and cognition that differ from the in-person constellation.

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The Online Disinhibition Effect

What Video Games Have to Teach Us about Learning and Literacy

Leu-M

Increasingly, consumers engage in health information seeking via the Internet. Taking a communication perspective, this review argues why public health professionals should be concerned about the topic, considers potential benefits, synthesizes quality concerns, identifies criteria for evaluating online health information and critiques the literature. More than 70 000 websites disseminate health information; in excess of 50 million people seek health information online, with likely consequences for the health care system. The Internet offers widespread access to health information, and the advantages of interactivity, information tailoring and anonymity. However, access is inequitable and use is hindered further by navigational challenges due to numerous design features (e.g. disorganization, technical language and lack of permanence). Increasingly, critics question the quality of online health information; limited research indicates that much is inaccurate. Meager information-evaluation skills add to consumers' vulnerability, and reinforce the need for quality standards and widespread criteria for evaluating health information. Extant literature can be characterized as speculative, comprised of basic 'how to' presentations, with little empirical research. Future research needs to address the Internet as part of the larger health communication system and take advantage of incorporating extant communication concepts. Not only should research focus on the 'net-gap' and information quality, it also should address the inherently communicative and transactional quality of Internet use. Both interpersonal and mass communication concepts open avenues for investigation and understanding the influence of the Internet on health beliefs and behaviors, health care, medical outcomes, and the health care system.

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Consumer health information seeking on the Internet: the state of the art

Neuroelectric and imaging studies of meditation are reviewed. Electroencephalographic measures indicate an overall slowing subsequent to meditation, with theta and alpha activation related to proficiency of practice. Sensory evoked potential assessment of concentrative meditation yields amplitude and latency changes for some components and practices. Cognitive event-related potential evaluation of meditation implies that practice changes attentional allocation. Neuroimaging studies indicate increased regional cerebral blood flow measures during meditation. Taken together, meditation appears to reflect changes in anterior cingulate cortex and dorsolateral prefrontal areas. Neurophysiological meditative state and trait effects are variable but are beginning to demonstrate consistent outcomes for research and clinical applications. Psychological and clinical effects of meditation are summarized, integrated, and discussed with respect to neuroimaging data.

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Meditation States and Traits: EEG, ERP, and Neuroimaging Studies.

Contributors Acknowledgments Introduction 1 The Internet in Context Part I Intrapersonal 2 Children and the Internet 3 Self Online: Personality and Demogrpahic Implications 4 Disinhibition and the Internet 5 The Psychology of Sex: A Mirror from the Internet 6 Internet Addiction: Does it Really Exist? (Revisited) Part II Interpersonal 7 Revisiting Computer--Mediated Communication for Work, Community, and Learning 8 The Virtual Society: Its Driving Forces, Arrangements, Practices and Implications 9 Internet Self-Help and Support Groups: The Pros and Cons of Text-Based Mutual Aid 10 Cyber Shrinks: Expanding the Paradigm Part III Transpersonal 11 From Mediatred Environments to the Development of Consciousness II 12 World Wide Brain: Self-Organizing Internet Intelligence as the Actualization of the Collective Unconscious 13 The Internet and Higher States of Consciousness--A Transpersonal Perspective Index

Psychology and the Internet : intrapersonal, interpersonal, and transpersonal implications

Standard ambulatory night sleep electroencephalograph (EEG) of 11 long-term practitioners of the Transcendental Meditation (TM) program reporting "higher states of consciousness" during sleep (the experimental group) was compared to that of nine short-term practitioners and 11 non-practitioners. EEG tracings during stages 3 and 4 sleep showed the experimental group to have: 1) theta-alpha activity simultaneously with delta activity and 2) decreased chin electromyograph (EMG) during deep sleep (p = 0.002) compared to short-term practitioners. Spectral analysis fast Fourier transform (FFT) data of the first three cycles showed that: 3) the experimental subjects had significantly greater theta 2 (6-8 Hz)-alpha 1 (8-10 Hz) relative power during stages 3 and 4 than the combined control groups [t(30) = 5.5, p = 0.0000008] with no difference in time in delta; 4) there was a graded difference across groups during stages 3 and 4 in theta 2-alpha 1 power, with experimentals having greater power than short-term practitioners, who in turn had greater power than non-practitioners [t(30) = 5.08, p = 0.00002]; and 5) experimentals also had increased rapid eye movement (REM) density during REM periods compared to short-term practitioners (p = 0.04). Previous studies have found increased theta-alpha EEG activity during reported periods of "transcendental consciousness" during the TM technique. In the Vedic tradition, as described by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, transcendental consciousness is the first of a sequence of higher states. The maintenance of transcendental consciousness along with deep sleep is said to be a distinctive criterion of further, stabilized higher states of consciousness. The findings of this study are interpreted as physiological support for this model.

Electrophysiological correlates of higher states of consciousness during sleep in long-term practitioners of the Transcendental Meditation program.

Lucid dreaming has been said to be within the capability of all individuals (LaBerge, 1985). Based on analyses of the incidence of this dream experience among university students and among persons with an expressed interest in dreaming, a majority have reported experiencing at least one lucid dream during their lifetime, and about 20% have reported experiencing lucid dreams with relative frequency. Our goal in this chapter is to describe and to integrate what has been learned through research about individuals who experience lucid dreams. To this end we will present data derived from the study of four separable but not unrelated functional domains for which subject differences associated with lucid dreaming, or lucidity, have been found. These functional domains are (1) oculomotor/equilibratory; (2) visual/imaginal; (3) intellectual/creative, and (4) personal/interpersonal. The extent of individual differences in lucid dreaming and the methods by which these differences have been investigated will also be discussed. Because methodology is an integral part of research into individual differences, methodological considerations will first be presented.

Individual Differences Associated with Lucid Dreaming

1 Introduction- I Historical and Cultural Perspectives on Lucid Dreaming- 2 Lucid Dreaming in Western Literature- 3 Lucid Dreams in Tibetan Buddhism- The Six Topics of N?rop?- The Teaching on Lucid Dreams- Dream Meditation- Distinguishing Metaphysics from Phenomena- 4 Lucidity, Sex, and Horror in Senoi Dreamwork- Aims of This Section- Gender and Dreams- Are Senoi Women Oppressed?- Senoi Notions of Sex and Gender- Senoi Categories of Altered States of Consciousness- Dreams- Familiars- Gender and Sacred Fluids- Creative Blood- Spiritual Powers- Great Adepts: Lucidity and Transformation- Summary and Conclusions- Who Needs Trance?- Conclusion- References- II Empirical Approaches to the Study of Lucid Dreaming- 5 From Spontaneous Event to Lucidity: A Review of Attempts to Consciously Control Nocturnal Dreaming- Methodological Considerations- Demand Characteristics- General Situational Effects- Day Residue- The Subject's Internal Processes- The Addition of an Altered State Procedure- State Changes Resulting from Sleep- Inquiry Variables- Analysis Variables- Controlling Dream Content by Implicit Suggestion- Overt Presleep Suggestion Studies- Posthypnotic Control of Dream Content- Lucid Dreaming- Why is Dream Control Important?- Conclusions- References- 6 Lucid Dream Induction: An Empirical Evaluation- Theoretical Framework- Duality of Thought- Relationship between the Dual Thought Processes- Duality of Lucid Dreaming- Conditions Associated with Lucid Dream Onset- Presleep and Pre-REM Conditions- Electrophysiological Variables- Dream Phenomenology- Discussion: Lucid Dream Onset- Lucid-Awareness Training- Personal Accounts- Alpha Feedback Training- Waking Fantasy Training- Discussion: Lucid-Awareness- Intention and Suggestion Techniques- Action-Specific Intention- Mnemonic Induction of Lucid Dreams (MILD)- Posthypnotic Suggestion (PHS)- Discussion: Intention and Suggestion- Cue "REM-Minding" Techniques- Tactile Cues- Auditory Cues- Discussion: Cue "REM-Minding"- Additional Techniques- Combined Techniques- Hypnagogic Lucidity Techniques- Conclusion- References- 7 The Psychophysiology of Lucid Dreaming- Lucid Dreaming Physiologically Verified- Physiological Correlates of the Initiation of Lucid Dreams- The Temporal Distribution of Lucid Dreams- EEG Activity during REM Lucid Dreams- NREM Lucid Dreams- Psychophysiological Relationships during REM Sleep- References- 8 Correspondence during Lucid Dreams between Dreamed and Actual Events- Methods- Results- Eye-Movement Signals and Hand Movements- Scanning Movements- Body Movements- Digit Movements- Memory and Mentation- Speech- Conclusions- "Volitional" Actions in Lucid Dreams- Sensations in Lucid Dreams- Consciousness in Lucid Dreams- References- 9 Psychological Content of Lucid versus Nonlucid Dreams- Self-Evaluations of Content- Sensations and Perceptions- Cognitions- Emotions- Summary of Self-Evaluations of Content- Judges' Evaluations of Content- Methodological Considerations- Samples- Instrument- Procedure- Results- Students- Sample Comparisons- Discussion- Conclusions- References- 10 Individual Differences Associated with Lucid Dreaming- Methodology- Lucid Dreaming Incidence- Oculomotor/Equilibratory Differences- Conclusions- Visual/Imaginal Differences- Spontaneous Waking Imagery- Induced Waking Imagery- Conclusions- Intellectual/Creative Differences- Personal/Interpersonal Differences- Demographic Differences- Personality Differences- In Review- References- III Personal Accounts and Clinical Applications- 11 A Model for Lucidity Training as a Means of Self-Healing and Psychological Growth- Retrospective View of My Own Work with Lucid Dreams- Basic Theoretical Principles- Empirical Research Surveyed- Phenomenological Experiments on Interactions with Dream Figures- Problem- Method- Results and Conclusion- Empirical Investigation of a Self-Healing Program Using Lucid Dreams- Problem- Method- Results and Conclusion- Case Studies of a Psychotherapeutic Program Using Lucid Dreams- Problem- Method- Results and Conclusion- Supplements- References- 12 Clinical Applications of Lucid Dreaming Introductory Comments- Creative Lucid Dreams- Working within the Lucid Dream- Lucid Dreaming: Using Nightmares and Sleep-Wake Confusion- Learning to Become Fully Lucid: A Program for Inner Growth- Implications of the Fact That One Is Dreaming- Dreamers Are the Primary Creative Sources of Their Dreams (CS)- Dreamers Can Recognize Aspects of the Self in the Dream Environment (SE)- The Dream World is an Alternate Reality (AR)- Individualizing Lucidity Training- References- 13 Personal Experiences in Lucid Dreaming- Personal History Relating to Lucid Dreams- Childhood- Early Adolescence- Late Adolescence and Early Adulthood- First Laboratory Experiments- Signaling from Lucid Dreams- Experiments at Home- Experimental Method- Results- Discussion- Conclusion- Update- References- 14 Without a Guru: An Account of My Lucid Dreaming- Experimentation in Lucid Dreams- Religious Significance of Lucid Dreams- The Experience of Light- IV Theoretical Implications of This New Research- 15 Out-of-the-Body Experiences and Dream Lucidity: Empirical Perspectives- The Statistical Association- A Functional Connection- Bases of the Statistical Association- The Theory of Phenomenological Equivalence- The Possibility of Neurophysiological Equivalence- The Search for Common Factors- References- 16 A Theory of Lucid Dreams and OBEs- Model Building- Reality- Altered States of Consciousness- Out-of-the-Body Experiences- Lucid Dreams- Selfless States- References- 17 Lucid Dreams in Their Natural Series: Phenomenological and Psychophysiological Findings in Relation to Meditative States- The Phenomenology of Lucid Dreams and Related Phenomena- Dream Lucidity in Relation to Normative Dreaming and Dream Bizarreness- Lucid and Control Dreams in Their Natural Series- Further Parallels between Lucidity and Meditation- Psychophysiological and Phenomenological Investigations of Lucid Dreams- First Study- Second Study- Third Study- Conclusions- Self-Reference and Transitional Organismic States- Dream Bizarreness and Lucidity- Lucidity and the Meditative Attitude- References- 18 Action and Representation in Ordinary and Lucid Dreams- to Concepts- Intentional and Deliberate Action- Self-Awareness and Responsibility- Ordinary Dreams- Lucid Dreams- Conclusions- References- 19 Dream Psychology: Operating in the Dark- References

Jayne Gackenbach

Papers

Psychology and the Internet : intrapersonal, interpersonal, and transpersonal implications

Electrophysiological correlates of higher states of consciousness during sleep in long-term practitioners of the Transcendental Meditation program.

Individual Differences Associated with Lucid Dreaming

Conscious mind, sleeping brain : perspectives on lucid dreaming

Transcendental meditation and improved performance on intelligence-related measures: A longitudinal study