Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to examine the relationship between being introverted and the need to affiliate with others. Specifically, I sought to find out whether social media can be used as a replacement for face-to-face interactions. Previous studies have remained inconclusive on whether social media can be seen as a beneficial tool for individuals who tend to be more introverted. In the study, multiple measures were utilized to determine the correlation between social media usage and need fulfillment. The results indicated that individuals with social anxiety had a propensity towards being more introverted and having an increased amount of time on TikTok. Furthermore, these same individuals who show a propensity towards introversion, have indicated that they not only need to affiliate with others, but that their interactions on TikTok are overall, positive, and to some extent, meaningful. Ultimately, the data collected offers some insight into the importance of social media as a tool to fulfill social needs in individuals who are introverted and display social anxiety.

Thesis Completion

2021

Semester

Fall

Thesis Chair/Advisor

Chin, Matthew

Degree

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

College

College of Sciences

Department

Psychology

Degree Program

Industrial-Organizational Psychology

Language

English

Access Status

Open Access

Release Date

12-1-2021

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