Personality-psychological Internet research examines the relationship between the personality of Internet users (or even non-users) and miscellaneous aspects of choice, usage, and impact of online communication and interaction. Ryckman (2008) defines personality as a “dynamic and organized set of characteristics possessed by a person that uniquely influences his or her cognitions, motivations, and behaviors in various situations”. This paper deals with personality expression on the computer and on the Internet.
The Big Five is the most common model of trait psychology. It includes neuroticism, extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. Neuroticism reflects feelings such as anxiety, anger, distress, and depression. People scoring low on neuroticism are described emotionally stable. Some evidence suggests that emotional stability increases in online communication. The interrelation between neuroticism and frequency and intensity of use of online services is not clear yet.
Extraverted individuals are sociable, gregarious, and outgoing whereas introverts are reserved, highly deliberate, and enjoy spending time alone. Landers and Lounsbury (2006) reported that introverted people seem to use the Internet more often and more intensively than extraverted people. Low scorers have more conservative and common interests. They rather avoid being exposed to controvert or ambiguous content and ideas.
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