Virtual living in mixed realities

Abstract

Psychoanalysis and psychotherapy as disciplines have been relatively slow in the exploration and analysis of cyberspace phenomena and screen technology mediated subjectivity. This paper takes a tour of five mixed reality scenarios (i.e. where real and virtual spaces mix) so as to stimulate thinking and discussion on the impact of the internet on contemporary populations (at the level of both psyche and socius). It also puts forward the claim that the experiences of virtual living afforded by cyberspace offer unique potentials for the theory and practice of psychotherapy and psychoanalysis today.