Meta-mind: How Cyberspace Will Alter Our Brains

As we move into virtual surroundings able to be anywhere, anyone or anything, how will that affect our minds? As the line between online and offline fades further, we look at how our personalities could shift across spaces. Dr. Alison Attrill-Smith, head of psychology online at the University of Wolverhampton, joins Alex Andreou to discuss the potential psychological impact of the metaverse. 

• “We've had iterations such as second life, and every time something new establishes itself there seems to be a flocking to it.”
• “Who goes online will depend on what they're wanting to achieve.”
• “Everything in psychology is about goals and what people want to achieve.”
• “There's loads of research that shows that people project online the persona that they aspire to.” 
• “Whether we'll be able to replicate real life interaction in the digital landscape is really debatable.”
• “The Proteus effect happens when people project their online persona offline.”
• “We’re already moving towards a world where digital access is a right, whether that becomes a human right, I'm not sure.”
• “To some extent we are already living in this virtual world and the metaverse is just an extension of that.”
• “I like to think that virtually reality has actually increased acceptance of who we really are.”

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Written and presented by Alex Andreou. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Producers: Alex Rees, Jacob Archbold and Jelena Sofronijevic. Assistant Producer: Elina Ganatra. Audio production and original music by Jade Bailey. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production

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