Dr Linda Kaye | Ep 2
Why we really use emoji in our messages.
We chat with Dr Linda Kaye about the fascinating world of Emoji and their role in digital communication. Dr Kaye delves into why we use Emoji, how they shape the tone and interpretation of our messages, and their influence on the people receiving them. She also shares insights into her Introductory book on Cyberpsychology and how she feels the mass media interpretation of academic findings is improving.
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Dr Linda Kaye
Dr Linda Kaye specialises in Social Inclusion and Wellbeing, particularly: How we can use online settings to promote social inclusion and well-being.
You can read more about her here.
Also known as ‘The Cyber Doctor’, Dr Kaye is available as a consultant to industry and a speaker.
In the second episode of Confessions of a Cyberpsychologist, we dive deep into the fascinating world of cyberpsychology with Dr Linda Kaye, Associate Head of Psychology at Edge Hill University. Dr Kaye, a founding member of the British Psychological Society’s Cyberpsychology Section and keynote speaker at the upcoming 2024 Cyberpsychology Conference. She shares her insights and experiences in this growing field.
Finding Her Cyberpsychology Path
Dr Kaye’s journey into cyberpsychology began during her PhD research on the psychological experiences of video games. Struggling to find her academic community, she discovered cyberpsychology—a field that connected her to like-minded researchers. This sense of belonging inspired her to further explore the discipline, contributing to its growth as a recognised branch of psychology.
Building the Cyberpsychology Community
Dr Kaye recounts the 2018 establishment of the British Psychological Society’s Cyberpsychology Section. Alongside Dr Alison Attrill-Smith, Dr Chris Fullwood and Dr Simon Bignell, Dr Kaye was part of the founding members of the BPS CyberPsychology section (recognised by the BPS in 2018).
A Look Ahead to the Cyberpsychology Conference
As keynote speaker for the upcoming 2024 Cyberpsychology conference in Liverpool, Dr Kaye will address “What Cyberpsychology Can Tell Us About the Digitally Connected Human Experience.” Her talk promises a broad exploration of how digital technologies shape our interactions, behaviours, and emotions, while reflecting on future research directions and challenges.
Emojis, Behaviour, and the Human Experience
Dr Kaye delves into her pioneering research on emojis and her Ted Talk on what our Emoji use says about us and what she is researching now on the cognitive impact of receiving an emoji. Her research explores their role in communication and emotional expression. Initially focused on personality judgments based on emoji use, her current studies investigate how people cognitively process and interpret emojis. This shift highlights the nuanced ways emojis function as social tools, revealing generational, cultural, and individual differences in usage and interpretation.
Beyond Emojis: Exploring Social Media and Technology Acceptance
Dr Kaye’s research interests extend to understanding specific social media behaviours and their psychological drivers. She is also investigating technology acceptance in organisational settings, aiming to bridge the gap between theoretical models and practical applications in industry. Her research findings are being used practically in the business HR context (Net Emotion Index) and in Digital Marketing.
Making Cyberpsychology Accessible
Her book, Issues and Debates in Cyberpsychology (written during Lockdown), addresses pressing topics like screen time and social media’s impact on well-being, offering a balanced, evidence-based perspective. Accompanying resources like video summaries further enhance accessibility for students, professionals, and the general public.
Opportunities for Students and Enthusiasts
Edge Hill University offers a Psychology undergrad. Students can also engage in research internships at the Cyberpsychology research lab with Dr Linda Kaye. For aspiring cyberpsychologists, she highlights the vast potential of the discipline to explore uncharted territory in how humans interact with technology.
Podcast Transcript
(Transcript generated directly from podcast audio using TurboScribe, and not manually corrected for transcribing errors).
Welcome to episode two of Confessions of a Cyberpsychologist. Today we are chatting to Linda Kay, Dr. Linda Kay, who is Associate Head of Psychology at Edge Hill University. And Dr. Linda Kay, we’ll be talking about later, is one of the founding members of the British Psychology Society’s Cyberpsychology section, and also the keynote speaker at the 2024 Cyberpsychology Conference, which we’ll also be touching on.
Welcome Dr. Linda Kay to Confessions of a Cyberpsychologist. We’re delighted to have you on board. Thank you.
