Individual differences in Internet usage motives

Abstract

The relationship between the psychobiological model of personality types (psychoticism, extraversion, and neuroticism) devised by Eysenck and Eysenck [Personality and individual differences: A natural science approach, Plenum Press, New York, 1985] and Internet use and usage motives was examined. A sample of 210 undergraduate students were asked to report on their motives for using the Internet and how often they engaged in a variety of Internet and web-based activities. The findings demonstrate distinctive patterns of Internet use and usage motives for those of different personality types. Specifically, those scoring high in neuroticism reported using the Internet to feel a sense of “belonging” and to be informed. Extraverts rejected the communal aspects of the Internet, and made more instrumental and goal-oriented use of Internet services. Finally, those scoring high in psychoticism demonstrated an interest in more deviant, defiant, and sophisticated Internet applications. Implications of the findings as well as suggestions for future research are included.