Coye Cheshire & Andrew Fiore April 18, 2023//

Computer-Mediated Communication

Social Presentation and Perception

04/18/23 Computer-Mediated Communication — Cheshire & Fiore 2

A Brief Introduction to Symbolic Interaction

“The character of interaction as it takes place between human beings”

Herbert Blumer (1900-1987) developed much of the sociological approach to SI

Long history of development in both philosophy and sociology

04/18/23 Computer-Mediated Communication — Cheshire & Fiore 3

Core Features of SI

Symbols…

Change…

04/18/23 Computer-Mediated Communication — Cheshire & Fiore 4

Core Features of SI

Interaction…

Empirical… Note the focus on the micro-level!

04/18/23 Computer-Mediated Communication — Cheshire & Fiore 5

Goffman’s Approach and Focus

How individuals create and maintain their ‘social self’

Dramaturgical Approach: Uses theater and drama as a metaphor for how we develop and present ourselves

04/18/23 Computer-Mediated Communication — Cheshire & Fiore 6

Frontstage and Backstage

04/18/23 Computer-Mediated Communication — Cheshire & Fiore 7

Expressions Given and Given Off

Goffman’s discusses two types of expressions:

‘given’ (intentional)

‘given off’ (unintentional)

04/18/23 Computer-Mediated Communication — Cheshire & Fiore 8

Some Key Concepts in Goffman’s Work

“Front”

“Idealization”

“Definition of the Situation”

“Expressions given”

“Expressions given off”

“Impression Management”

04/18/23 Computer-Mediated Communication — Cheshire & Fiore 9

Meaning through Contradiction?

When individuals act in a way that is inconsistent with expected behavior, several things happen (for the ‘performer’ and the ‘audience’).

In many ways, the study of social “roles” allows us to understand such expectations as they are continually interpreted.

04/18/23 Computer-Mediated Communication — Cheshire & Fiore 10

Social Order through Interaction?

Goffman argues that social order can be an outcome of our symbolic interactions…

What are some examples of how this might occur (in CMC or other ‘mediated’ situations)?

04/18/23 Computer-Mediated Communication — Cheshire & Fiore 11

04/18/23 Computer-Mediated Communication — Cheshire & Fiore 12

Signaling

Assessment signals Handicap (costly) signals Index signals

Conventional signals

How do people send and receive them? At a bar, on IM, in online dating? Cost of signaling, cost of assessing

04/18/23 Computer-Mediated Communication — Cheshire & Fiore 13

Costs and benefits for sender

Costs Production

Efficacy costs Strategic costs

Risk Punishment

Benefits Signaling: Changing observer’s beliefs Functional: Hedonic and utilitarian

04/18/23 Computer-Mediated Communication — Cheshire & Fiore 14

Costs and benefits for receiver

Costs Assessment Being deceived

by a dishonest signal

Benefits Signaling: Learning about the sender Functional: Again, hedonic and utilitarian

04/18/23 Computer-Mediated Communication — Cheshire & Fiore 15

How does signaling differ online and offline?

04/18/23 Computer-Mediated Communication — Cheshire & Fiore 16

What is “deception”?

How can we resolve the tension between “playful” and “literal” use of CMC?

04/18/23 Computer-Mediated Communication — Cheshire & Fiore 17

What is Goffman’s “setting” in CMC interaction?

Where does it come from?

04/18/23 Computer-Mediated Communication — Cheshire & Fiore 18

“The architects of a virtual space — from the software designers to the site administrators — shape the community in a more profound way than do their real-world counterpart. People eat, sleep, and work in buildings; the buildings affect how happily they do these things. But the buildings do not completely control their perception of the world. In the electronic domain, the design of the environment is everything.

”

04/18/23 Computer-Mediated Communication — Cheshire & Fiore 19

Just for fun

Passport to the Pub: A guide to British pub etiquette http://www.sirc.org/publik/pub.html

Guide to Flirting http://www.sirc.org/publik/flirt.html

Both from Social Issues Research Centre.