Psychology Comparison

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Internet use in the home. What they found, the report states, is that the initial depression and loneliness of the participants in the study did not increase use on the Internet. However, citing the researchers, the article states; ÒInternet use itself appeared to cause a decline in psychological well-being.Ó
After stating this theoretical finding the article lists the cost of the project ($1.5 million) and the organizations who sponsored it (many being technology companies). The article notes that both these organizations and the research team were ÒshockedÓ by the findings, because the Internet has been viewed by many as having actively social uses. Harmon goes on to compare the Internet to the ÒpassiveÓ medium of television. She states that with these new findings the suggestion is made that the Internet is no healthier than older forms of mass media. She claims that these findings raise Òtroubling questionsÓ about the quality of social interaction on the Internet. The ...

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and psychological well-being.Ó What the study found is that despite the Internet's focus on communication; Ògreater use of the Internet was associated with declines in participants communication with family members in the household, declines in the size of their social circle, and increases in their depression and loneliness.Ó
After this brief description of the study, the article begins by describing the trends in social ÒdisengagementÓ due to technology that many researchers have discovered over the past 35 years. The Internet could either Òexacerbate or ameliorate these trendsÓ the researchers conclude. Therefore, they have done this study to further explore those issues. ...

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