Psychology and the Internet: From Freud to Facebook

With the popularity of online social networks and services, what’s the psychology behind how people use them? How is the Internet changing people’s lives for better (or worse)? What does the research show about how people use Facebook and Twitter? Can you get effective mental health treatment online?
Our panel will address the following questions:

1. What is research telling us about technology and mental health?
2. How are Facebook and Twitter changing our relationships with others?
3. How is technology being used to help people with mental health concerns?
4. Is e-therapy a viable alternative to face-to-face treatment?
5. Are people’s online identities merging with their real life ones, and if so, what are the ramifications of this?
6. Is technology creating new types of psychological or personality challenges?
7. How do online support groups work and are they effective?
8. What computer software programs are most helpful for which issues?
9. Is Internet addiction something to be concerned about and if so, what do you do about it?
10. What clinical and ethical issues arise when combining mental health with technology?

You can vote for our panel (and others you’re excited about seeing at SXSW 2010, including music and film panels) by heading over to the PanelPicker.

Dr. Grohol and I met at SXSW 2009 where we attended one another’s Core Conversations, both of which focused on mental health and technology. Mine was Therapy 2.0: Mental Health for Geeks, which also included a resource wiki for attendees and those who couldn’t make it to the presentation. His was Social Networking in Health: e-patients, Data, and Privacy. Both Core Conversations generated significant interest which delighted me, as I don’t typically see many health related panels at SXSW.  I was also happy to connect with another psychologist who is passionate about the relationship between psychology and social media. As you can imagine, I’m thrilled that we will be collaborating for next year’s conference, should our panel be selected.

Last year’s Core Conversation was designed as an interactive discussion with all those in the room. But this year, I’m interested in doing a more formal presentation compiling research on technology, social media, and mental health and presenting it to SXSW attendees. Here is our submission:

Psychology and the Internet: From Freud to Facebook

With the popularity of online social networks and services, what’s the psychology behind how people use them? How is the Internet changing people’s lives for better (or worse)? What does the research show about how people use Facebook and Twitter? Can you get effective mental health treatment online?

2. How are Facebook and Twitter changing our relationships with others?

4. Is e-therapy a viable alternative to face-to-face treatment?

5. Are people’s online identities merging with their real life ones, and if so, what are the ramifications of this?

6. Is technology creating new types of psychological or personality challenges?

7. How do online support groups work and are they effective?

9. Is Internet addiction something to be concerned about and if so, what do you do about it?

10. What clinical and ethical issues arise when combining mental health with technology?

We are hoping to be able to include a couple of other panelists who are involved in psychology and social media.

The PanelPicker will remain open through the end of the day on Friday, September 4th, so don’t forget to vote for the presentations that you want to see. And I hope to see you again in Austin next year.

I am taking the Interactive part of SXSW Interactive seriously and want to make sure that my panel reflects the needs and concerns of the SXSW community. If my panel is selected, I will put up a wiki to allow people to ask questions and post comments prior to SXSW. The Panel Picker will close on August 29th, so you still have eight more days to peruse topics and cast your vote!

The panel I submitted this year is called Therapy 2.0: Mental Health for Geeks. It will answer the following questions:

1. What specific mental health and occupational risks are tech people more susceptible to, and what can they do about it?
2. What can one do to assess their current health strategies and recognize which self-care plans they need to implement?
3. How can people manage Friendship 2.0, Dating 2.0, and Breakup 2.0 issues?
4. How can people maximize their productivity as tech freelancers while minimizing their risk of burnout and social isolation?
5. How can people handle e-stalkers, trolls, and cyberbullies without completely losing their minds?
6. Is it possible to maintain any privacy while enjoying a satisfying online and offline social life?
7. Blogging on ambien and drunk text messaging: how does a person clean up their messes while maintaining their popularity?
8. What anger management strategies can people utilize when the hardware or software is interfering with their productivity?
9. Can technology offer you any tools for actually improving your mental health?
10. What resources are available to you if you realize you need more help?

Voting on the panel picker closes on August 29th.