Social media, social avatars and the psyche: is Facebook good for us?

Brunskill, David

doi:10.1177/1039856213509289

Australas Psychiatry

2013

DOI: 10.1177/1039856213509289

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Social media, social avatars and the psyche: is Facebook good for us?

David Brunskill¹

Abstract: Advanced thinking around social media may exist on an organizational level, but on an individual level there exists a need to catch up, as the psychological dimensions of going online are significant and deserve consideration. Inherent to the experience of using social media is the self selection of favorable material to represent the individual. This process is cumulative, and effectively creates a socially-derived and socially-driven, composite online image ('social avatar'). Humans notably select their best… Show more

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Cited by 25 publications

(43 citation statements)

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“…For participants who do not know each other professionally, there may be a necessarily greater degree of performative identity display for participants, explained by social avatar theory which describes the self-presentation of the best aspects of a participant’s personality. 2 , 8 Social avatar theory can also explain challenges such as trolling, and subtler forms of harassment, such as repetitive questioning and criticism, due to online disinhibition and personality expression. 2 , 7 , 9 As with all clinical interactions, psychiatrists must always consider that every word written, and phrase uttered, could potentially be on display to the patients and the public indefinitely.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“… 2 , 8 Social avatar theory can also explain challenges such as trolling, and subtler forms of harassment, such as repetitive questioning and criticism, due to online disinhibition and personality expression. 2 , 7 , 9 As with all clinical interactions, psychiatrists must always consider that every word written, and phrase uttered, could potentially be on display to the patients and the public indefinitely. More light, and less heat, makes for better communication and a more informed professional community and polity.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Remaining on course, online: Reflections and recommendations on more effective psychiatrist participation in online chat forums in the context of social media dynamics

Looi

¹

,

Allison

²

,

Bastiampillai

³

2023

Australas Psychiatry

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Exaggerated anticipatory anxiety is common in social anxiety disorder (SAD). Neuroimaging studies have revealed altered neural activity in response to social stimuli in SAD, but fewer studies have examined neural activity during anticipation of feared social stimuli in SAD. The current study examined the time course and magnitude of activity in threat processing brain regions during speech anticipation in socially anxious individuals and healthy controls (HC). Method Participants (SAD n = 58; HC n = 16) underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during which they completed a 90s control anticipation task and 90s speech anticipation task.

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“…For participants who do not know each other professionally, there may be a necessarily greater degree of performative identity display for participants, explained by social avatar theory which describes the self-presentation of the best aspects of a participant’s personality. 2 , 8 Social avatar theory can also explain challenges such as trolling, and subtler forms of harassment, such as repetitive questioning and criticism, due to online disinhibition and personality expression. 2 , 7 , 9 As with all clinical interactions, psychiatrists must always consider that every word written, and phrase uttered, could potentially be on display to the patients and the public indefinitely.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“… 2 , 8 Social avatar theory can also explain challenges such as trolling, and subtler forms of harassment, such as repetitive questioning and criticism, due to online disinhibition and personality expression. 2 , 7 , 9 As with all clinical interactions, psychiatrists must always consider that every word written, and phrase uttered, could potentially be on display to the patients and the public indefinitely. More light, and less heat, makes for better communication and a more informed professional community and polity.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Remaining on course, online: Reflections and recommendations on more effective psychiatrist participation in online chat forums in the context of social media dynamics

Looi

¹

,

Allison

²

,

Bastiampillai

³

2023

Australas Psychiatry

Get access via publisher Add to dashboard Cite

Exaggerated anticipatory anxiety is common in social anxiety disorder (SAD). Neuroimaging studies have revealed altered neural activity in response to social stimuli in SAD, but fewer studies have examined neural activity during anticipation of feared social stimuli in SAD. The current study examined the time course and magnitude of activity in threat processing brain regions during speech anticipation in socially anxious individuals and healthy controls (HC). Method Participants (SAD n = 58; HC n = 16) underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during which they completed a 90s control anticipation task and 90s speech anticipation task.

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“…This could contribute to an emphasis on one’s reputational standing on social media. Furthermore, such “face” behaviors could be perpetuated by Instagram’s unique image-driven features, which motivate its users to construct positive self-presentations and portray themselves in an ideal manner (Brunskill, 2013; Chou & Edge, 2012). This could have facilitated social comparisons among Singaporean Chinese by encouraging the use of social comparisons as a source of self-efficacy information.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Instagram and risk of rumination and eating disorders: An Asian perspective.

Teo¹,

Collinson²

2019

Psychology of Popular Media Culture

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Exaggerated anticipatory anxiety is common in social anxiety disorder (SAD). Neuroimaging studies have revealed altered neural activity in response to social stimuli in SAD, but fewer studies have examined neural activity during anticipation of feared social stimuli in SAD. The current study examined the time course and magnitude of activity in threat processing brain regions during speech anticipation in socially anxious individuals and healthy controls (HC). Method Participants (SAD n = 58; HC n = 16) underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during which they completed a 90s control anticipation task and 90s speech anticipation task.

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“…However, problems with the addiction model include applicability of addiction criteria to IGD, 9 IGD as a coping mechanism, 10 the relevance of the concepts of flow, satisfaction and frustration as contributing to overuse of gaming 10 and wider exploration of the meaning of social networking. 11 While duration of online activity certainly has implications for physical health, 4 its applicability as a criterion for IGD has been criticised. 9 Gaming has been used in the treatment of mental health issues and in development of positive resilience.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Problem Internet Use and Internet Gaming Disorder: a survey of health literacy among psychiatrists from Australia and New Zealand

Dullur

¹

,

Hay

²

2017

Australas Psychiatry

Get access via publisher Add to dashboard Cite

Exaggerated anticipatory anxiety is common in social anxiety disorder (SAD). Neuroimaging studies have revealed altered neural activity in response to social stimuli in SAD, but fewer studies have examined neural activity during anticipation of feared social stimuli in SAD. The current study examined the time course and magnitude of activity in threat processing brain regions during speech anticipation in socially anxious individuals and healthy controls (HC). Method Participants (SAD n = 58; HC n = 16) underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during which they completed a 90s control anticipation task and 90s speech anticipation task.

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