PSYCHOLOGY OF CYBERSPACE

    twinning
    John Suler · 3/20/98 at 1:24 PM ET

    >>The JennyCam fan you referred to who has her site on all the time--it sounds like a certain amount of escapism, a relationship without real-life commitment. Not that there's anything wrong with it. I think we could all benefit from such diversions--connecting or disconnecting with someone who may be more like a TV character. Isn't that what she really is, but a little more personalized?<<

    This sounds right to me, Wanda. It's also possible that having JenniCam on while one works serves what self psychologists call a "mirroring" or "twinning" function. People like to be around other people. They NEED to be around other people, even if there isn't any direct interaction. It builds one's sense of self as a human. A similar example of this is "parallel play" in children. For the guy who works while being able to see on a monitor Jenny doing her work, it's a kind of "parallel work."

    Replies:
    • JenniCAM-Truman Show, by Liza, 6/27/98
      • re: Jenni and Truman, by John Suler, 6/29/98

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