Identity Management in Cyberspace

Suler, John. "Identity Management in Cyberspace." Journal of Applied Psychoanalytic Studies, 4, 455-460.

Mr Suler gives some important insights to consider when weighing in who we will present as ourselves in cyberspace. Often much depends on the group we are joining. Different groups expect different aspects or levels of identity. A professional group wants to see you 'as you really are', a fantasy or gaming group expects you to take on an 'avatar', a chat group expects each partipicant to decide for themselves. We often tend to overanalyze ourselves and forget that our identity is a very complex aspect of who we are. Cyberspace allows us to present all or parts of ourselves in a medium of our own choice. We should remember, though, that often the choices we make reveal things about us we were not intending to show.
Who am I? Who do I want to be? What do I want others to see in me? These are all questions we deal with almost automatically in our everyday lives. But when we enter cyberspace we worry because here we are creating ourselves to be seen by others. We all have parts of ourself that we view as negative, that we don't like, and parts that we see positively, that we like. Cyberspace allows us to present the person we like, become the person we fantasize and examine the person we don't like. This can be a very good thing.
"A single person's identity embodies multiplicity." It is important to take a step back once in a while and examine ourselves objectively. We need to realize that all the roles we have played and tasks we have taken on contribute to who we are. Cyberspace allows us to present all or part of that person. This article gives relavent points we should consider and utilize when entering this 'space'. But what is important to remember is what Mr. Suler describes as "the hallmark of mental health...bringing together the various components of online and offline identity into one balanced, harmonious whole."