The proliferation of social media platforms and our increasing reliance on the internet for connection and communication has caused the line between the “real” world and the online world to blur. So much of our lives can be impacted by online interactions—and not all those interactions are positive. Why does the internet seem to encourage bad behavior from some users? Why do we feel we need to share so much of our private lives with the online world? Is screen time really as addictive as the headlines say?

In the 10 lectures of The Psychology of Online Behavior, you will join Dr. Nicola Fox Hamilton to look at the many ways our reliance on the internet has changed the way we interact with one another and has redrawn the boundaries of social life. You will explore the realms of online dating, gaming, and shopping, as well as examine the ways the internet allows for a variety of experiences, both positive and negative. As you dive into the nature of the virtual world, you will see how this technology has altered how we live in complex and ever-evolving ways.

With the knowledge you will glean from these lectures, you will be able to make more informed decisions about what you share and what you consume online and develop a more thorough understanding of 21st-century communication. As you explore what research tells us about online life, from misinformation and cyberbullying to the psychological benefits of online communities, you may find that you reexamine your own relationship with the internet—and the people on the other side of your screen.