Transcending Taboos

A Moral and Psychological Examination of Cyberspace

Garry Young author Monica Whitty author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Taylor & Francis Ltd

Published:15th Mar '12

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

This hardback is available in another edition too:

Transcending Taboos cover

Cyberspace is composed of a multitude of different spaces where users can represent themselves in many divergent ways. Why in a video game, is it more acceptable to murder or maim than rape? After all, in each case, it is only pixels that are being assaulted. This book avoids wrestling with the common question of whether the virtual violation of real-world taboos is right or wrong, and instead provides a theoretical framework that helps us understand why such distinctions are typically made, and explores the psychological impact of violating offline taboos within cyberspace.

The authors discuss such online areas as:

  • ‘Reality’ sites depicting taboo images

  • Social networking websites and online chatrooms
  • Online dating websites

  • Video game content.

This book considers whether there are some interactions that should not be permissible even virtually. It also examines how we might be able to cope with the potential moral freedoms afforded by cyberspace, and who might be vulnerable to such freedoms of action and representation within this virtual space.

This book is ideal for researchers and students of internet psychology, philosophy and social policy, as well as therapists, those interested in computer science, law, media and communication studies


"This book provides a thorough examination of the moral and ethical implications of online versus offline behaviour; the philosophical analysis of moral judgement regarding online versus offline behavior is particularly interesting and illuminating."





- Richard C. Sherman, Professor Emeritus, Miami University, USA


"The conceptual issues addressed in this book are very important and fascinating. I don’t know of any book like this one; it is unique."


- John Suler, Department of Psychology, Rider University, USA


"The authors present their readers with a vivid and enlightening introduction to a growing world of online symbolic taboo activities. ... [They] offer sophisticated analyses as well as a rich and up-to-date research bases for their arguments. ... This volume offers the hope of opening a serious scholarly conversation that has not yet taken place. ... [It] can serve as a crucial start toward the answers we need to uncover." -Vincent W. Hevern, Le Moyne, USA, in PsycCRITIQUES

"This book provides a thorough examination of the moral and ethical implications of online versus offline behaviour; the philosophical analysis of moral judgement regarding online versus offline behavior is particularly interesting and illuminating."- Richard C. Sherman, Professor Emeritus, Miami University, USA

"The conceptual issues addressed in this book are very important and fascinating. I don’t know of any book like this one; it is unique." - John Suler, Department of Psychology, Rider University, USA

ISBN: 9780415579339

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: 521g

240 pages