Kari's prospectus

For my research paper, I am studying the effect of the internet on the psychological health adolescents and teenagers, specifically its impact on depression. I will be investigating this topic to determine whether the internet leads to a more connected society or causes teens to have feelings of isolation and loneliness. In the process of this research, I want to delve deeper into determining the psychology behind these feelings. The paper will focus on the phenomena of cyber bullying and the psychological impact that it has on adolescents. I hope to explore what particular aspects of the internet contribute to the hurtful and destructive behavior can that result from the internet. I will also explore a study that links internet usage to depression and loneliness. The paper will also link current instances of cyber bullying such as the recent suicide that took place in front of a live audience over webcam and the mother who bullied her daughter’s friend over MySpace. I hope to help the reader to better understand not only the ways that psychologists classify and diagnose behaviors that signal depression, but also come to a conclusion about the role that the internet plays in mental health areas such as depression.