NEWS: Award for Psychological Insight: Deadline Extended

JANUARY 10 2008: The boom in social networking and the debate surrounding this phenomenon has resulted in a huge level of interest in Big White Wall’s Award for Psychological Insight.

However, due to the holidays and academic schedules, insufficient entries have been received to date, despite the $2000 prize for the winning article. This means that currently, an entrant has a one in two chance of winning!

To allow further entries and to ensure a publishable collection of articles, the submission deadline has been extended to February 28, 2008.

The competition is open to all psychology, counseling and therapy professionals and students.

Professor James W. Pennebaker, Chair of Psychology, University of Texas, has commented that the Award is ‘an excellent opportunity to explore internet-based social and emotional processes’

The Award

The Big White Wall Award for Psychological Insight will be awarded to the author of the article that best explores: The psychology of networking online and its impact on emotional health

The Brief

From a user perspective, explore and contrast 3 - 5 social networks of your choice including Big White Wall.

From your experience as a site user and your interactions with others, draw out one or more of the following:

• What motivates people to join social networks?
• What underlies different levels and patterns of engagement with social networks?
• What encourages repeat usage and loyalty to any one site? and/or
• What are the overall benefits and pitfalls of social networking from a psychological perspective

In conclusion, what do you evaluate as the impact of social networks on emotional health?

Write an article of 1500 - 2000 words based on your evaluation of your experiences which may include examples, quotation and diagrams and refer to relevant psychological theory as appropriate.

Further information

The competition closes on February 28, 2008 and the winner will be announced on March 15, 2008.

To enter or for further information, please contact: insightaward at bigwhitewall dot com

Please circulate these details within your organization. If you would like us to circulate them for you, please email us at the above address and we would be happy to help.

What is Big White Wall?

Big White Wall is the online emotional health specialist. It is a support network where, anonymously, people can honestly express everyday worries and deeper concerns and talk things through openly with others.

Why The Wall?

The Wall is the part of Big White Wall where users release pressure by expressing their thoughts and feelings by posting a brick - creating permanent digital graffiti of human emotion. Other users can comment on bricks and of course make their own.

What makes us different?

The critical difference between Big White Wall and other networks such as Facebook and MySpace, is that all users on the site are anonymous. This allows everyone to be open and honest and to share what is really going on in their lives.

Contact us

We would love to hear your feedback. Please email the founder Jenny Hyatt,  Jenny at bigwhitewall dot com, with any thoughts or comments you have.