The Manipulation of Online Self-Presentation Create, Edit, Re-edit and Present

People present themselves on the world wide web in various ways. There are times when they represent their real actual self, and times when they might want to portray a more idealised or fantasised version of their self on the Internet. This book explores a number of psychological theories around these self presentations and online impression management. It considers individual differences, situational and personality factors that influence which aspect of their self they present on diverse types of Internet arena. The motivational factors that guide online self-presentation through the sharing of self-information, self-disclosure, are also considered in order to present a conceptualisation of online self-presentation being goal-driven. Throughout the text, a number of directions for future research in this exciting area of online impression management are outlined.

Alison Attrill is Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Wolverhampton, UK. She researches online behaviour, specifically how individuals present, manipulate and control their online personae through self-disclosure and considered self-presentation in both textual and non-textual computer-mediated communication.

1. Introduction – Who Am I?
2. Theoretical Considerations
3. Individual Factors and the Cyberself
4. Motivations for Sharing the Cyberself
5. The Social Cognitive Internet and the Cyberself