Lecture Slides on Social Information Processing Theory | COMM 240, Study notes of Communication

Download Lecture Slides on Social Information Processing Theory | COMM 240 and more Study notes Communication in PDF only on Docsity! Communications 200 January 18, 2011 CHAPTER 11: SOCIAL INFORMATION PROCESSING THEORY Overview: Text-Based CMC  Technological determinism – belief that impact of a message is determined by the medium over which its communicated  We adapt to the environment technology provides for us.  We are social information providers, provide information beyond the scope of the technology.  Computer-mediated communication (CMC) – text-based messages, which filter out most nonverbal cues  Nonverbal communication is critical in relationship development  To expressing emotion  Communication about relationships  Enormous amounts of information passed through nonverbal cues. Humans Seek to Overcome Limits of Pure Text-Based CMC  Can verbal messages overcome the limits of CMC?  Use of Emoticons to make up for lack of non-verbal communication in text- based environment  By using these emoticons, you are making up for lack of verbal expressions  Emoticons are just empirical representations of our emotions.  Ex: Typing in ALL CAPS in emails is a nonverbal cue that you are YELLING.  *Emoticons are an empirical validation that human beings adapt to the communication method present. :-> = devilish :/ = hmmm :-o = surprised $-) = just hit it big #-) = stayed up too late :-I = bored ;-( = crying :-& = tongue tied :-V = talking %-( = confused %-) = dazed or silly Classic Example  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8dZsB V_ZlM  Clip from “You’ve Got Mail.”  Use of emoticons to express nonverbals  In the instant message conversations.  Use of trimmed/concise grammatical rules  Using acronyms such as “LOL”  Does this have an influence on your use of speech and writing in other contexts?  Does it influence the way you write papers for class? Big Cultural Differences Examples of Japanese Emoticons • With Japanese emoticons, the main difference between the US ones are the eyes. The eyes are the ones showing different emotions. With the US smileys, the mouth plays the bigger role.  Assumption #2: Extended Time: impressions formed at reduced rate because exchange of social information through CMC is much slower  4x longer to say something on CMC  (advice – send messages more often)  Impression formation takes longer to form.  Anticipation of future interaction  Anticipation of more interaction = drive to reduce uncertainty  Also found in uncertainty reduction theory  Chronemics: use of time to convey information  If you anticipate future communication, you try to set up your communications to anticipate for future interaction and anticipation of what’s going to happen next. Hyperpersonal  claim that CMC relationships are often more intimate than those developed when partners are physically together  What the sender does  Selective self-presentation – online positive portrayal without fear of contradiction that enables people to create an overwhelmingly favorable impression  Asynchronous channel: allows more planning  What the receiver does  Social identity-deindividuation (SIDE) – CMC users overestimate similarity with others they meet in an online interest group  Self-fulfilling prophecy  Sender self-selects what to send = positive impression  CMC limits ability to find contrary information  Positive impression drives receiver’s behavior so the sender becomes wonderful Dysfunctional?  A big debate is going on at the moment about on-line communication  Key question: Are those who are socially challenged turning to on-line forms of communication as a means by which to make up for real-world difficulties?  Myth: Because you are dysfunctional in real world, you are functional in the virtual world.  Or, are those who are perfectly fine in a real world social world finding on-line environments just another means by which to make friends?  Answer = YES.