Psychology of the Internet: Psychology 420 I
COURSE SYLLABUS
Spring, 2000
Michael Lavin, Ph.D.
mlavin@sbu.edu e-mail
http://web.sbu.edu/psychology/lavin/
home page
Office Hours MTUWTH:
2:30-3:30
Relevant web pages:
http://phoenix.herts.ac.uk/SDRU/Helen/inter.html
http://www.victoriapoint.com/piu.htm
http://www.addictions.com/internet.htm
TEXTBOOK AND OTHER MATERIAL
Recommended:
Gackenbach, J.
(1998). Psychology and the internet. San Diego: Academic Press.
Journal: CyberPsychology and Behavior. Volume 2,
October, 1999 Ann Liebert Inc,
Publisher. ( in bookstore)
.
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Course
Description
This course will serve as a basic introduction to the Internet, the
systems used at St. Bonaventure, Internet tools to be covered at this time
include: email, the World Wide Web, and search engines. The emphasis will be on
exploring the transpersonal intrapersonal and interpersonal implications of
extended use. (internet dependence, compulsive internet use, loneliness and
internet use, compulsive internet gambling, virtual sex addiction, cyber
Disorders, Gender differences, co-evolution of consciouness).
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COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Because this is a skills-development course, attendance is crucial. Some moderately light reading is required.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
The
purpose of this course is to help students to gain an understanding of the
Internet, and to develop the basic skills for navigating the 'net. And most
importantly, attempting to understand the psychological effects of extensive
Internet use.
TEACHING METHODS
This class will be taught using a workshop approach. This means that guided exercises and topic
discussion will be conducted in class, with assistance from the professor. Some class time will also be available for
independent exploration by the student.
. We will also be spending 1 day per week (Tuesday, Murphy Hall PC lab)
engaging in Internet related workshops (e.g., exploring www, web page
construction)
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ATTENDANCE
POLICY
School policy requires your attendance in class and use of common-sense
should suggest that it is to your advantage to attend class. I will not, however, penalize you for
missing a singlelass. You are
responsible for any information missed due to an absence. It is your responsibility to find out what
you missed and to get any assignments for the next class.
CLASSROOM ETHICS AND BEHAVIOR
Students are required to abide by the Acceptable Use Policy,
theComputing Resource Guidelines, any
other regulations set by St. Bonaventure University”s conventions for Internet
use.
Course Subject Calendar
Jan
18 Introduction to the Psychological
Aspect of the Internet JG Chapter 2.
Jan
20 Lab Murphy 1:00-2:00 Make sure you have ID # and username # (obtain from Dr.
Harland and the Computer Science Department).
Jan
25 Lab chatting and MUDS 
http://www.dragonlance.com/mudring/
http://angus.interspeed.net/eduvr/
http://members.home.net/janus22/MudHaven/index.html
Chat:
http://www.irchelp.org/irchelp/ircprimer.html
http://www.newage.com.au/links.pages/chat.html
http://cybercity-online.net/chatirc.html
Jan
27 Internet addiction: Does it really
exist. JG K Young CP & B
Feb
1 Lab
www and surfing
Feb
3 Healthy and Pathological Internet
Use Suler CP&B
Feb
8 Internet Lab e-mail
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4
Feb
10 Psychological characteristics of
Compulsive Internet use. Greenfield
CP&B
Feb
15 Internet Lab Graphics
Feb
17 Collegiate entanglement and
Internet use Lavin CP&B
Feb
22 Internet Lab home page construction
Feb
24 Internet therapy King and Moreggi JG
http://www.victoriapoint.com/internet%20addiction.htm
March
7 Internet lab home page construction
March
9 Male and Females on the Internet:
Morahan-Martin JG
March
16 Internet Lab Home page construction
March
21 Loneliness and Internet Use Morahan-Martin CP&B
http://www.addictions.com/internet.htm
March
23 Internet Lab survey construction
March
28 Compulsive Internet gambling King
and Barak CP&B
http://www.4a2z.com/cgi/rfrsearch.cgi?4anything-2-http://cnn.com/US/9905/18/gambling.changes
March
30 Internet Lab exploration
April
4 Virtual sex addiction Part 1 CP
&B DelMonico and Noonan JG
April
6 Internet Lab exploration
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4 
April
11 Cyber Disorders Young CP&B Grohol JG
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5
April
13 Begin proposal search
April
18 Virtual societies Igbaria JG
April
25 Internet Lab proposal search
April
27 Virtual societies cont’d Igbara JG
May
2 Internet Lab conclusion
May
4 Co-Evolution of Technology and
Consciousness Gackenbach JG
Summary:
You have to realize that this course was intended not to have more than 8
students but it evolved to 26. That puts additional constraints on the course.
The question, since this is a seminar course (special topics) what do I do to
distribute grades. Here what I am going to do. No mid-term, no final. I want
you to write a research proposal having to do with a topic covered in this
class or a topic related to subjects covered in this course. (gender and
internet dependence, gambling, etc). Your responsibility would be to write up
an APA-friendly proposal containing title page, abstract, Intro and Methods
predictions with graphic representation. That is what you will have to do. I
will grade you accordingly concerning the professional and creative nature of that
proposal. I also expect exemplary class/lab attendance. This is the first time
I have offered this course. Let’s see how it goes. mjl
