Mobile technologies use. The balance between personal and collective benefits

Doctoral Thesis / Dissertation from the year 2017 in the subject Psychology - Social Psychology, University of Chieti-Pescara, language: English, abstract: The massive technological progress is inevitably modifying our life style and interpersonal relationships: there are several evidences about problems and limitations on the relational dimension caused by technology; this work on the other hand takes place from the idea that the personal usage of a mobile technology can bring positive consequences to the user and to the society in an indirect way.

Technologies studied in this work are defined persuasive technologies because they are intentionally designed in order to modify the users¿ attitude or behavior. Persuasion in this case is to be meant with the exclusion of manipulation or coercion, being a purely communicative act directed to facilitate a voluntary behavioral or attitudinal change.

The objective is to individuate the psychosocial variables that influence the users¿ attitude toward these technologies that can determine the future usage, whether they are technologies for a personal usage and benefit or they are able to cause benefits to the community as well. Three mix methods studies have been done: a focus group, a pilot study and an online questionnaire.