Professional paper
https://doi.org/10.24869/psihei.2025.120
SOCIAL NETWORKS - A NEW SPACE OF KOINONIA
Tanja Frančišković
; University of Rijeka, Faculty of Health Studies
Marina Letica Crepulja
; Department of Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry at the Clinical Hospital Center Rijeka
Abstract
Social networks are a phenomenon created in the last decade, owing its existence and development to the technological advancements. Since their inception in 2005, the number of users has been increasing every year. Social networks are increasingly commonly becoming a topic of research, especially in the fields of sociology and psychology.
The basic concept of social networking is undoubtedly communication. However, it also has its specificities, and it differs from everyday communication. This raises many further questions, such as the following: Do people open up more easily when they do not engage in face-to-face communication? What are the consequences of being able to easily manipulate one’s own image? How real are the images that the users create about themselves?
The results of some recent studies have shown that what is most commonly encountered is not an ideal self-image, but rather less expression of the so-called negative emotional states.
Exceptionally interesting are the results of some studies which reported that by analysing the texts and words posted in the users’ social networking profiles, we can assess their personality traits with high certainty. Therefore, how we present ourselves on social networks actually reflects our true personality, no matter how much we might try to conceal it.
Psychodynamic understanding of social networks can use the theoretical concepts of both individual and social psychological development, particularly through understanding the people’s need to relate and communicate, initially with the primary objects and later with others in their environment. At the societal level, this need is partially fulfilled through religion and culture.
According to group analytic theory, large groups accomplish their dialog/communication through the so-called koinonia, which could be translated as a feeling of togetherness and connection. In that sense, religion and culture can be understood as areas of constant human need for universal communication within the context of koinonia.
At the time of technological development and having reached a certain level of alienation, social networks can be seen as a new space of koinonia, one that satisfies the need for communication present among the estranged people of today.
Keywords
social networks; koinonia; psychological understanding; large group
Hrčak ID:
343423
URI
Publication date:
30.12.2025.
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