Information and communication technologies are
becoming more present in people’s daily lives. But what is
the purpose of the mass proliferation of digital devices? Are
they helpful in fostering personal growth and individual integration
in the sociocultural environment, by promoting
satisfaction, opportunities for action, and self-expression? Do
they rather enhance automation, constraints on personal initiative,
and compulsive consumption of information?
In this paper, we suggest that one of the fundamental objectives
for our field—cyberpsychology—in the coming decade
will be to create technologies that contribute to
enhancement of happiness and psychological well-being.1
In the human–computer interaction (HCI) field, some
scholars are also starting to recognize this challenge. For example,
Zhang and colleagues2 suggest that HCI has moved
from addressing the basic needs and goals of users toward
supporting higher-level human needs and goals. Taking a
holistic perspective, these authors call for research that examines
the impact of technologies on individuals’ personal
growth and self-actualization.3 More recently, Sander4(p311)
defined ‘‘Positive Computing’’ as ‘‘the study and development
of information and communication technology that is
consciously designed to support people’s psychological
flourishing in a way that honors individuals’ and communities’
different ideas about the good life.’’