The Transformation Mechanism Theory And The Alienation Of People In The Cyber Space

The Cyber space is a virtual space that is supported with technique by people, in which people can simulate some actions of the real world and do a lot of things that are impossible in the real world, all of that enrich people's experience. The appearance of the Cyber space brings great convenience to people's life and enriches the life of people, which stimulate the development of the subjectivity. But because of some defects of the technique and people's improper use, the emotional apathy of the subject and the reduce on initiative are appearing, which can be regarded as the alienation of people. The transformation mechanism theory was put forward by Siebel who is an American scholar, and mainly including seven conversion mechanisms: the use, classification, comfort, task excessive, function division, goals replacement, stimulate. This theory stated the reasons and failure process from the point of inadequate understanding of people's ideas and misconduct. The alienation of people in the Cyber space is caused by many reasons of which the improper is an important one. This paper tries to analyze the alienation process of people in the Cyber space from the perspective of people with the convert mechanism theory and puts forward several countermeasures pertinently.The paper consists of three parts. Relevant content of Cyber space, human alienation and theory of conversion mechanisms of the contents is introduced in the first part. By using theory of conversion mechanisms, human alienation phenomena are analyzed, and effects made by different mechanism are discussed in the second part. In classification mechanism, alternation occurs due to subject exaggerates the effect of Cyber space, ignores its drawbacks and over-generalizes its utility. In benefits mechanism, alternation occurs when subject abuses Cyber space for selfishness or other purpose. In object replacement mechanism, alternation occurs when subject wallows in effect of Cyber space, replacing original object of self-development with pursuing effect of Cyber space. In comfort mechanism, it leads to alternation when subject is just satisfied with the conquest of the object, ignoring the self-thinking and self-improving. In function imbalance mechanism, alternation occurs due to subject over-emphasize objective conditions while not pay enough attentions to subjective conditions. Based on analysis of the second part, the third part summarizes the effects of various mechanisms and puts forward some relevant countermeasures. For instance, two aspects are inspired from benefits mechanism. On the one hand, everything has two sides, subject should predict the use technology in both sides and take the corresponding preventive measures, not only see the side of profits. On the other hand, the values and proficiency of technology designers play an important role in the use of technology, and improving the comprehensive quality of technology designers to ensure positive use technology is also very important. Taking the above inspiration into account, corresponding countermeasures can be taken from both aspects of technology and humanity to face alternation occurred in benefits mechanism.