This foundational article from Suler explores why individuals often act differently online than in person, introducing the concept of the online disinhibition effect. Suler identifies six key psychological factors (dissociative anonymity, invisibility, asynchronicity, solipsistic introjection, dissociative imagination, and minimization of authority) that encourage users to express themselves more openly or aggressively online. He also distinguishes between positive (therapeutic or expressive) and negative (harmful or antisocial) forms of disinhibition. The model provides an early but influential framework for understanding behavior in digital spaces.