S u m m a r y

 

Matikainen J (2006)

Identity on the web &endash; a communal interaction perspective

Psykologia 41: 112&endash;122. Vammala ISSN 0355-1067.

 

The aim of the article is to examine identity and community on the web by using literature concerning the web. In addition the article studies the nature of web-based interaction, which concretely demonstrates how identity and community are created on the web. An essential finding of the article is, that web-identity does not exist in a vacuum, but in continuous interaction with our bodily identity. Community on the web is more loose, which means that new communities spring up and old ones die continuously. This phenomenon is related broadly to the current rise of tribal grouping. Interaction on the web and computer-mediated communication provide fewer social cues and influence identity and community on the web. The article concludes that reflexivity is increasing and control becoming more pervasive. From the methodological viewpoint separating real identity and identity on the web is problematic.

 

Key words:

Identity, community, interaction, internet.

 

Janne Matikainen, D.Soc.Sc., University lecturer, Department of Communication, P.O.Box 54, FIN 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland.