Boundaries of Self and Reality Online

Implications of Digitally Constructed Realities

1st Edition - February 15, 2017
Imprint: Academic Press
Editors: Jayne Gackenbach, Johnathan Bown
Language: English
Hardback ISBN:
9 7 8 - 0 - 1 2 - 8 0 4 1 5 7 - 4
eBook ISBN:
9 7 8 - 0 - 1 2 - 8 0 4 1 7 4 - 1

As technology continues to rapidly advance, individuals and society are profoundly changed. So too are the tools used to measure this universe and, therefore, our understanding of… Read more

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As technology continues to rapidly advance, individuals and society are profoundly changed. So too are the tools used to measure this universe and, therefore, our understanding of reality improves. Boundaries of Self and Reality Online examines the idea that technological advances associated with the Internet are moving us in multiple domains toward various "edges." These edges range from self, to society, to relationships, and even to the very nature of reality. Boundaries are dissolving and we are redefining the elements of identity. The book begins with explorations of the digitally constructed self and the relationship between the individual and technological reality. Then, the focus shifts to society at large and includes a contribution from Chinese researchers about the isolated Chinese Internet. The later chapters of the book explore digital reality at large, including discussions on virtual reality, Web consciousness, and digital physics.

Chapter 1. The Dimensions of Cyberpsychology Architecture

The Identity Dimension: Who Am I?
The Social Dimension: Who Are We?
The Interactive Dimension: How Do I Do This?
The Text Dimension: What Is the Word?
The Sensory Dimension: How Am I Aware?
The Temporal Dimension: What Time Is It?
The Reality Dimension: Is This for Real?
The Physical Dimension: How Is This Tangible?
Applying the Dimensions in the Assessment of an Individual
Applying the Dimensions in the Analysis of an Online Environment
Applying the Dimensions to Explore Research Concepts
Section A. Self Online

Chapter 2. Understanding the Self Through the Use of Digitally Constructed Realities

Emergence of a Self From Presymbolic Consciousness
Symbolic Consciousness and the Body
Symbols and Psyche
User Action in a Digitally Constructed Reality
Modeling Behavior From User Action
Character Structure
Identifying Level of Development
Conclusions

Chapter 3. Flipping Out: Avatars and Identity

Chapter 4. Avatar Lives: Narratives of Transformation and Identity

Introduction
Art and Virtual Space
The Avatar Construct: Avatar and Identity
Art, Virtual Geography, and the Avatar
Other Geographies
Gender, Biotechnologies, Drifting Bodies
Conclusion

Chapter 5. Internet Use and Self-Development in Chinese Culture

Internet Use Behaviors of Chinese Adolescents and College Students
Influences of Internet Use on Self-Development of Chinese Adolescents and College Students
Conclusion

Chapter 6. Beyond the Boundaries of the Game: The Interplay Between In-Game Phenomena, Structural Characteristics of Video Games, and Game Transfer Phenomena

Game Transfer Phenomena: A Brief Overview
In-Game Phenomena Relevant to Game Transfer Phenomena
Sensory Perceptual Stimulation
High Cognitive Load
Dissociative States
High Emotional Engagement
Conclusion

Chapter 7. The Self–Other Topology: The Politics of (User) Experience in the Like Economy

Consumers, Cannon Fodder, and Social Media
The Created Self
Mimicry Without (Representational) Mirrors
The Politics of Affective Experience
Self, Other, and Imitation
Radical Relationality
Alienation in the Shared Experiences of Social Media
Social Media Contagion

Chapter 8. The Shadow of Technology: Psyche, Self, and Life Online

Technology and Its Discontents: Shadow and Technological Pathologies Shadow
Shadow of Technology: An Online Life
The Wounded Gods and Neuroses
The Place of Psyche in a Technological World?
Conclusion and Implications

Section B. Simulation or Reality?

Chapter 9. The Video Gaming Frontier

The Individual
Video Game–Based Interventions: Health
Video Game–Based Interventions: Education and Training
Society and Culture
Video Game Culture
Social Movements
Race
Gender
eSports
Conclusion

Chapter 10. The Incarnated Gamer: The Theophoric Quality of Games, Gaming, and Gamers

Methodology
Five Levels of Religion in Video Games
A Theology of Culture in a Digital Age
The Concepts of Christophorism/Theophorism
Four Theological Case Studies
Closing Statement

Chapter 11. Games, Dreams and Consciousness: Absorption and Perception, Cognition, Emotion

Perception and Cognition
Absorption
Consciousness, Games, and Dreams
Conclusion

Chapter 12. Looking for the Ultimate Display: A Brief History of Virtual Reality

The Ultimate Display
The Ingredients for Presence
First Steps in Virtual Reality
The Modern Age of Virtual Reality
Current Virtual Reality Devices
Conclusion

Chapter 13. Virtual Reality Wave 3

The Virtual Environment
The WOW Factor
Take a Deep Breath
Immersion
Lucid Dreams and Virtuality
Lucid Living
Diving Deep
Coming Up for Air
Synopsis

Chapter 14. Internet Dreaming—Is the Web Conscious?

Introduction
Complexity Theory of Consciousness
Aspects of Consciousness
Intelligence
Attention
Intention
Volition
Autonomy
Self-awareness and Reflexive Consciousness
Dreaming Consciousness
Internet Dreaming
Machine Dreams as Sleep-Associated Mentation
Machine Dreams as Metaphor
Machine Dreams as Bizarre Hallucinatory Mentation
Dreaming = Rapid Eye Movement Sleep
Summary: Aspects of AI Consciousness
The Interface
Web Consciousness?—Conclusion

Chapter 15. The Information Age, Virtual Reality, and the Bigger Picture

Introduction
Virtual Reality and Us: VR Is As Real As Any Reality Can Be
The Logic of Virtual Reality
Physics, Metaphysics, and the Nature of Consciousness
Life in a Virtual Reality Entropy Reduction Trainer
Boundaries of Self and Realities Online

Jayne Gackenbach

Dr. Gackenbach received her Ph.D.in 1978 in Experimental Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is currently a Professor at MacEwan University. She has taught and done research at the post-secondary level both in the US and in Canada for 40 years.

As well as being a past-president of the International Association for the Study of Dreams, she has numerous professional publications and on dreams and in the last decade on video game play. Dr. Gackenbach is editor of “Sleep and Dreams: A Sourcebook” (1986) for Garland Publishers. She co-edited “Conscious Mind, Sleeping Brain: Perspectives on Lucid Dreaming” (1988) for Plenum Publishers; “Dream Imagery: A Call to Mental Arms” (1991) for Baywood Publishers. Her first authored book is “Control Your Dreams” (1989; 2012) for Harper-Collins. She was invited in 1992 to present her work on lucid dreaming to the Dalai Lama at a conference on sleeping, dreaming, and dying.

Dr. Gackenbach’s interests have shifted to computer-mediated communications. In this regard she has edited a book from Academic Press (1998; 2007), “Psychology and the Internet: Intrapersonal, Interpersonal, and Transpersonal Implications” and co-wrote a book called “cyber.rules” for Norton publishers (2007) with examines healthy and unhealthy internet use.

Dr. Gackenbach’s most recent research interest combines her dream and technology interests examining the dreams of video game players. She has released two related books. One was co-written with her gamer son, Teace Snyder, on the effects of video game play, “Play Reality”. She also has an edited book “Video Game Play and Consciousness” from NOVA publishers. Both books came out in 2012. She has pursued an active research program into gaming and dreams expanding it in recent years to include social media usage. Over her 40 year career she has 54 peer reviewed articles, 31 book chapters and 10 books with two translated into Chinese, one into German and one into Arabic.

The central question that has permeated her work over her 40-year career is, “what is real?” Be it in dreams or in technology, the nature of reality and its phenomenal experience by humans has been a compelling question.

Affiliations and expertise

MacEwan University, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Johnathan Bown

Johnathan Bown received his M. Ed. in 2015 in Counselling Psychology from The University of Lethbridge. He is currently a practicing psychologist in the Edmonton, Alberta community. He has maintained research-oriented endeavors in the realms of psychology, dreams, and gaming since the beginning of his post-secondary education.

Mr. Bown is registered with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association as well as the College of Alberta Psychologists. He practices from the Humanistic approach of psychotherapy and promotes a holistic approach to wellbeing. He has published on mindfulness practices in gaming, presence in video gaming, and the incorporation of game content into dreams. In 2015, he published “Video games, nightmares, and emotional processing” in the edited book, Emotions and Technology through Elsevier. Mr. Bown has also presented posters at The Banff Annual Seminal in Cognitive Science (2009) and at Towards a Science of Consciousness (2010). Recently, he has created and facilitated an online workshop for nurses on the topic of sexual addition (2016) through Alberta Society for the Promotion of Sexual Health, as well as presented on similar topics at the Biennial Western Canadian Conference of Sexual Health (2016).

Affiliations and expertise

Edmonton North Primary Care Network, Edmonton, AB, Canada

Life Sciences

Physical Sciences & Engineering

Social Sciences & Humanities

Health