Deindividuation and Evaluation Apprehension

There are many positive attributes from the anonymity effect while cyberchating. I am positing that the increased openness results from a decrease in evaluation apprehension. I need to know if there are sets of circumstances in which a cyberchater is effected by the deindividuation process. Are there possibilities of a person having a sense of decreased self-awareness as a result of being part of the cybergroup? I am searching for research that supports the deindividuation process resulting from on-line encounters. Are there any suggestions of any empirical studies or web sites to acccess? Any input is most welcome.

• deindividuation online and offline by Tom Postmes (postmes@scils.rutgers.edu), 11/6/98