Models of information behavior: changes in psychological boundaries of internet users

Abstract

The authors conducted a study aimed at studying the characteristics of students with different models of information behavior in connection with the changes in psychological boundaries when using Internet technologies. The article reveals the role of information technologies and technical means, which become an important component of the life of a modern person and change his living space. The authors show the influence of information technologies on mental processes and relationships of people and consider the features of information behavior in connection with possible violation of psychological boundaries when using technical means The article analyses the problem of diagnosing information behavior and contains an overview of diagnostic methods of studying Internet addiction. It’s shown that in modern world information behavior is needed to be studied outside the context of addictive behavior. In the empirical part of the study authors distinguish the models of information behavior: entertaining, informational, communicative, productive and pragmatic. The empirical study defines the main behavioral characteristics of the presented information behavior models and investigate the changes in psychological boundaries when using the Internet among students with different models of information behavior. The results of the study allow to reveal the subjective attitude of students to the possibilities and availability of Internet resources in connection with differences in the severity of the expansion of psychological boundaries in communication, in the reflection of violation of boundaries, in changing needs.