Resource 12B


Virtual relationships Recent advances in information technology have raised new issues in the field of psychology. Communications and multimedia software have expanded the boundaries of communities by making it possible for people to form relationships with individuals they have never met face- to-face. But, for some, these online relationships are as real as personal contact. We see this when virtual relationships spill over into the real world, where they sometimes result in long-term partnerships, sometimes in friendships, sometimes, unfortunately, in violence. Research into the influence of online relationships on the emotional development of youth has shown that adolescents who are isolated in their real lives are more likely to be dependent on their online connections. This makes them extremely vulnerable to victimization and deception. As mobile technology makes virtual interaction more accessible, this may become an increasingly acute problem.


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English for Psychology – Copyright © Garnet Publishing Ltd 2010


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