Empathy, Morality and Social and Emotional Competencies in Interpersonal Interactions Online

Abstract

Information and communication technologies are used in education, leisure and working spaces. In those contexts, individuals interact through electronic devices daily, usually for several hours. Individuals and groups communicate, learn and work through cyberspace. They feel, think, act and make decisions while interacting online. Social and emotional competencies, morality and empathy, highly used in informal communication, have been found to be important components of face-to-face interpersonal interactions and newresearch advancements focus on their role in interpersonal interactions online. These competencies may also play an important role in prosocial versus antisocial interaction online, but research on this topic is still in its early stages. This chapter reviews studies focused on social and emotional competencies, morality and empathy as related to cyberspace. Similarities and differences between face-to-face and online interactions will also be reviewed. This chapter will further present recent findings specifically focused on these competencies as expressed online. Some implications for policy and practice will be discussed, and future research lines will be suggested.