LIFE ON THE LINE: THE THERAPEUTIC POTENTIALS OF COMPUTER MEDIATED CONVERSATION

TLDR

The rapid growth of computer‑mediated communication and the rise of topic‑based networks have greatly increased the potential for grassroots therapeutic or antitherapeutic interactions. The study investigates how computer networking practices compare to face‑to‑face therapy and explores the limits and potentials of online communication. Over an 11‑month period on a suicide‑focused electronic bulletin board, participants exchanged validation, sympathy, acceptance, encouragement, and advice, with hostile posts rare, and the interactions were more sustaining than transformative, showing limited alignment with change‑inducing therapeutic practices.

Abstract

In what ways are computer networking practices comparable to face-to-face therapy? With the exponential increase in computer-mediated communication and the increasing numbers of people joining topically based computer networks, the potential for grass-roots therapeutic (or antitherapeutic) interchange is greatly augmented. Here we report the results of research into exchanges on an electronic bulletin board devoted to the topic of suicide. Over an 11-month period participants offered each other valuable resources in terms of validation of experience, sympathy, acceptance, and encouragement. They also asked provocative questions and furnished broad-ranging advice. Hostile entries were rare. However, there were few communiques that parallel the change-inducing practices more frequent within many therapeutic settings. In effect, on-line dialogues seemed more sustaining than transforming. Further limits and potentials of on-line communication are explored.