Coping with challenges in the era of new information technologies: opportunities and limitations

Abstract

The effect of the information world realities on the processes of coping with difficult life situations is considered in the article. There are two possible directions of research: the first direction is associated with the study of changes in the system of coping resources and relevant transformation processes of categorization of difficult situations, and second one is based on the analysis of the processes of coping with the possible risks the information environment. Ambiguity, inconsistency and insufficiency of available empirical data are noted. It is emphasized that original dichotomy of understanding the role of internet communication in human development (its interpretation as compensatory vs complementary) sets certain limitations in understanding the realities of coping in the information age.