Online identity creation and experimentation through
anonymity using the blank space of private thought creation in a public forum
ratifies, through reinforced externalized vindication, thoughts and behaviors
previously condemned in an individual’s physical culture by providing a
community and cultural narrative the physical brain cannot distinguish from
physical social interaction. In order to
understand the mentality of radicalization through the online portal we need a
comprehensive study uniting both the subjective and objective sciences of an individual’s
reality construction framework and how the brain responds to virtual vs
physical learning in regards to behavioral change. It is my hypothesis that online identity
creation and experimentation through anonymity is fueling revolutionary
behaviors against cultural norms worldwide.
In other words, people go online under a username and are capable of
finding support for ideas made fun of or belittled in their physical
culture. They are then able to
experiment through online targeted social interaction, based on the websites
they visit, further reinforcing the desire which was belittled in physical
public.
In a grass is always greener on the other side
mentality the behavior is experimented with until it starts to become a part of
the physical behavior performed by the individual as they try to make the ideal
pasture from the virtual world a physical reality in their day to day
life. This can manifest from playing
with the idea of trying sushi for the first time in a culture not normally
known for that dish e.g. Texas. Wherein
an individual is told by their friends that sushi is bait not food. This is an example of social policing along
cultural norms which prior to the internet was impossible to escape. Conform or be marginalized. Now, with the advent of online identity
creation and experimentation, I observed an individual from Texas seek advice
online for what types of sushi to try.
He met with an outpouring of support and advice which led him to drive
for 45 min one way in order to purchase sushi.
Not only did he make the drive, but over the months leading up to this
decision he had milestones he had to overcome in order to make this
happen. He had to wait to get his
license, being too young to drive at the beginning of the identity experiment,
showing long term and private personal change leading to physically removing
the boundaries that stood between himself and his ultimate goal against the social
norms reinforced on a daily basis of rural Texan culture.
The problem facing us is the social
sciences have very little methodology to approach researching this occurrence. How can a study be done when the very nature
of science is based on objective facts and the behavioral experimentation is
being performed in anonymity and virtually?
It mandates a new methodology and a review of how we as humans create
facts.