ComputerMediated Communication Social Presentation and Perception Coye Cheshire

Computer-Mediated Communication Social Presentation and Perception Coye Cheshire //

Forums are go! § http: //courses. ischool. berkeley. edu/i 216/f 10/forums/ 10/6/2020 Computer-Mediated Communication 1

Wiki is ready for you to feed it! § Post your name and at least one or two ideas for a final project– does not have to be fully formed…just express your interest(s). § Post your name under someone else’s idea if you share a similar interest and would like to chat about forming a group. § All groups will ultimately need a single team leader. It is important at this stage to express if you have an interest in that role. 10/6/2020 Computer-Mediated Communication 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 10/6/2020 Computer-Mediated Communication 3

Core Features of SI Symbols… Change… 10/6/2020 Computer-Mediated Communication 4

Core Features of SI Interaction… Empirical… 10/6/2020 However: note the focus on the micro-level Computer-Mediated Communication 5

Goffman’s Approach and Focus How individuals create and maintain their ‘social self’ Dramaturgical Approach: A metaphor 10/6/2020 Computer-Mediated Communication 6

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Frontstage and Backstage 10/6/2020 Computer-Mediated Communication 8

Expressions Given and Given Off Goffman’s discusses two types of expressions: ‘given’ (intentional) ‘given off’ (unintentional) 10/6/2020 Computer-Mediated Communication 9

Other Key Concepts in Goffman’s Work “Idealization” “Definition of the Situation” “Impression Management” 10/6/2020 Computer-Mediated Communication 10

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. 10/6/2020 Computer-Mediated Communication 11

Social Order through Interaction? Goffman argues that social order can be an outcome of our symbolic interactions… Examples of how this might occur in CMC situations? 10/6/2020 Computer-Mediated Communication 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 10/6/2020 Computer-Mediated Communication 13

Costs and benefits for sender § Costs § Production § Efficacy costs § Strategic costs § Risk § Punishment § Benefits § Signaling: Changing observer’s beliefs § Functional: Hedonic and utilitarian 10/6/2020 Computer-Mediated Communication 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 10/6/2020 Computer-Mediated Communication 15

What are the important differences between signaling online and offline? 10/6/2020 Computer-Mediated Communication 16

What is “deception”? How can we resolve the tension between “playful” and “literal” use of CMC? 10/6/2020 Computer-Mediated Communication 17

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How would you conceptualize Goffman’s idea of “setting” in CMC interactions? 10/6/2020 Computer-Mediated Communication 19

“ 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. 10/6/2020 ” Computer-Mediated Communication 20

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. 10/6/2020 Computer-Mediated Communication 21