Transcript GROUP 41025 - University of Maine System

Interpersonal Communication
on the Internet
Group 4
Jessica Skillin Hallett
Shelley Gagne
Charlene Smith
Arthur Vose
Casey Washburn
Definition of Interpersonal communication
• The process through which people create and
manage their relationships exercising mutual
responsibility in creating meaning
• Components include meaning, relationship, and
process
• Interpersonal communication has many functions,
including meeting social/psychological needs,
attempting to achieve goals, developing a sense of
self, and acquiring information
(Verderber, et.al, 2007)
What is Internet
Communication?
•
•
•
•
Chat rooms
IM
Facebook
Email
• BUT what happens
when we combine the
two?
• Is it possible to have
a deep, personable
relationship solely
based on online
communication?
What’s a computer without the Internet!
• The majority of us view the computer “more of
an instrument for communication” more then
anything else.
• Results indicated that while the internet was
integrated into college students’ social lives,
face-to-face communication remained the
dominant mode of interaction. Participants
reported using the internet as often as the
telephone (Baym)
Relationship Between Interpersonal and
Internet Communication
• Similarities between face to face and internet
communication include:
• Community
• The ability of people to come together
• to have a sense of sharing in an online environment
• Immediacy, a feeling of closeness and a sense of emotional
proximity, in spite of physical distance
(Shedlestsky & Aitken, 2004)
Relationship between Interpersonal
and Internet Communication,
continued
• Differences between the two include:
• Internet communication lacks non-verbal cues, so that
communicators can’t tell what the other is thinking
• Internet communication allows for anonymity, and
communicators can hide their true identity
(Morio & Buchholz, 2009)
Case study article
• Little difference found in relationships formed face to face or
online
• Little difference between online work groups and face to face
work groups
• Social penetration theory helps explain how internet
communication and face to face communication work similarly
• Rather than focusing on the characteristics of the medium, it
might be more productive to focus on the characteristics of the
communication. Language that increases intimacy, social
penetration, or message immediacy may help to combat the
limitations of the medium.
(McDaniel, 2005)
Cultural Differences in Interpersonal
Internet Communication
• Some ethnic communities in the United States
(i.e.,Korean) use the internet to strengthen their
cultural traditions and language
• As a result, the internet has the potential to reach a
broad audience within various ethnic communities
(Wilkin et.al., 2007)
Gender and Interpersonal
Internet Communication
• Women find computer-based communication to
be effective and are more likely to use computer
mediated communication than men
(Mitra, 2005)
• Women comprise 56.2% of Facebook users
(http://www.insidefacebook.com/2009/02/02/faste
st-growing-demographic-on-facebook-womenover-) 55% Teens are Obsessed with Sex,
Drugs, and Violence on Myspace
Skill Section: Speed,
Reach, Anonymity,
Regard, and Interactivity
Speed:
• “Have you ever used a slower computer than the one you
are used to and you find yourself tapping your fingers
waiting for a web page to load up, or you wonder if the
computer is working because it takes “so long” to load the
page?” (Shedletsky & Aitken, 2004, p. 149)
• I am sure we have all felt frustrated at some point while
using a computer or any other form of technology.
Old (2002) Dell laptop that is very slow due to viruses VS. New (2008)
HP laptop that is very fast.
I asked my roommate to use both computers to check her e-mail to see
how she would react:
• Old Computer
• New Computer
•
•
•
After using the older computer, my
roommate was yelling from her
bedroom, “This computer is so
slow! This is ridiculous!”
She actually stopped using the
computer and never checked her email because she became so
aggravated.
When my roommate checked her email on this laptop, everything
went smoothly. She did not
become frustrated or storm out of
her room in a fit. She simply
handed me my computer and asked
me why I had her check her e-mail
on both computers.
Shedletsky & Aitken (2004) make an
interesting point:
“When we ask our students if all this speed has given
them additional leisure time, they strongly react with
just the opposite, namely, they feel like they are
running on a treadmill and cannot keep up with all that
is coming at them” (p. 149).
→Do you feel like you are running on a treadmill? Do
you feel like you cannot keep up?
Reach:
• When you go on vacation, do you bring your cell
phone or computer with you? Are your work,
friends, and family able to reach you at any time?
• Reach means that you are making yourself
available at anytime and in any place.
“Is it possible that the Internet is just one more step
in the fragmentation of society?” (Shedletsky &
Aitken, 2004, p. 150)
• YES! We all want things immediately, we have to
have it now! We are becoming so impatient
because of technology. We are dependent on
technology to get us what we want, when we want
it. The Internet is convenient for us. We do not
need to leave the house to see a friend, we can see
them online. We do not need to leave the house to
buy things, we can order them online.
Regard:
• Do you get excited knowing you may have an e-mail waiting in your
inbox? Do you ever get excited to check your facebook to see if anyone
has left you a message?
• “Not surprising, humans hunger for regard, in a world that so often treats us
as a cog in the efficiency model,” (Shedletsky & Aitken, 2004, p. 150).
• According to research this hunger for regard may be “causing us to feel
nervous and frustrated—to feel rage at times,” (Shedletsky & Aitken, 2004,
p. 150).
• This nervous frustration and anger is said to lead to rage not just on the
highways (road rage), but also rage on the Internet (flaming).
• Flaming may be encouraged by anonymity . . .
Anonymity:
• People are more apt to speak up and communicate when
they are anonymous.
• According to Shedletsky & Aitken (2004), “Anonymity
online likely enhances the chances that one will express
their anger openly, since your anger is not attached to
“you.” (p. 150).
•
•
•
•
Embroidery
Information
This is a group set up on Organization
a Yahoo discussion forum where
people can speak
their mind “in response to piracy and copyright infringement charges made by
the embroidery coalition against those who share embroidery designs obtained
from embroidery software and from embroidery design companies,”
(Goldsborough, 2006).
Most of the participants agreed to sign up on as anonymous. Due to this, the
embroidery coalition got a subpoena to force Yahoo to reveal the identities of
the participating in the discussion board because they did not like some of the
things that were being said.
The courts did not agree and “recognized that plaintiffs can’t pierce anonymity
just because they don’t like what someone has said” (Goldsborough, 2006).
Internet anonymity has a long tradition, and anonymity in general has an even
longer one. As the electronic foundation said in its motion to quash, “Internet
discussion groups are forums for the exchange of information and ideas. They
fulfill the same function in modern America as local newspapers and printed
broadsides in colonial America and coffeehouse publications like the Tatler
and Spectator in seventeenth century England. Participants sometimes use
their own names but often use pseudonyms, just as Benjamin Franklin used
“Silence Dogood” and many other pseudonyms.” (Goldsborough, 2006).
Interactivity:
• Interactivity on the Internet is much different than face to face
communication.
• When communicating on the internet, there are no nonverbal
cues like there are face to face.
• “Reduced social cues may render online relationships less
fulfilling that f2f relationships ,” (Shedletsky & Aitken, 2004, p.
151).
• Social Context Cues Theory: online relationships are not as intimate as f2f
relationships
• Social Presence Theory: communication is impersonal and not as intimate
as in f2f exchanges (the feeling of involvement is low)
• Social Penetration Theory: intimacy is developed slowly as selfdisclosures are outer layers are revealed, than the inner layers (beliefs,
values, etc.) are revealed
Disinhibition Effect
• Six Factors:
1. Dissociative Anonymity- “When people have the opportunity to separate their actions
online from their in-person lifestyle and identity, they feel less vulnerable about selfdisclosing and acting out,” (Suler, 2004).
2. Asynchronicity- “People don’t interact with each other in real time. Others may take
minutes, hours, days, or even months to reply. Not having to cope with someone’s
immediate reaction disinhibits people,” (Suler, 2004).
3. Solipsistic Interjection- “Absent face-to-face cues combined with text communication
can alter self-boundaries. People may feel that their mind has merged with the mind of
the online companion. Reading another person’s message might be experienced as a
voice within one’s head, as if that person’s psychological presence and influence have
been assimilated or introjected into one’s psyche,” (Suler, 2004)
4. Dissociative Imagination- “Consciously or unconsciously, people may feel that the
imaginary characters they “created” exist in a different space, that one’s online persona
along with the online others live in an make-believe dimension, separate and apart from
the demands and responsibilities of the real world,” (Suler, 2004)
5. Minimization of Status and Authority- “Everyone—regardless of status, wealth, race,
or gender—starts off on a level playing field,” (Suler, 2004).
6. Individual Differences and Predispositions- “The intensity of a person’s underlying
feelings, needs, and drive level affect susceptibility to disinhibition,” (Suler, 2004).
Pros And Cons Of The
Internet And The Family
+
•
•
•
•
•
•
Accessibility
Support
Information
Connections
Self-confidence
Love
• Isolation
•Uncertainty
•Deception
•Hate
•Decrease in
relationships
Adoption On The Internet
•With Technology today the process of adoption can be
handled online.
•The Internet does not only have an
Influence on family it can actually be
used to create a family!
• “Today, potential parents wanting to adopt are increasingly
using the Internet to research about adoption as well as
display themselves as worthy potential par-ent(s).” (Wahl, S.,
McBride, M., & Schrodt, P., 2005).
Adoption On The Internet
• The internet can lend support for people adopting.
Instead of trying to find people in one’s area they can
connect with other families who are adopting all over the
world.
• The Internet allows families
easily access information and
answers to questions they
might be having
• “Recently, many Web sites have emerged that
provide information and tips for completing the
adoptive process, although for most sites the actual
processof adoption is still performed offline” (Wahl,
S., McBride, M., & Schrodt, P.,2005).
Adoption On The Internet
• Websites have become very intriguing and engaging for
families looking to adopt.
• The article “Point and Click Parents” does bring up some
concerns for adopting online such as;
• False Impressions - It is never for sure if people are honest when using
the internet. Are they really the “perfect” family?
• Language that suggest children are a commodities that are being sold.
• Adopting online might change the definition of what it means to be a
family.
• Websites are set up more as a marketing website, with classified like
posts.
• As technology grows so does the possibilities for
adoption online.
• More research is vital for online adoption.
Teenagers On The Internet
• The Internet has become a huge part of teenagers lives.
• Programs such as, instant messengers, blogs, facebook,
and email make the internet a ideal place for teens to
connect with other kids their age.
• The article “Adolescents On The
Net: Internet Use And Well-Being.”
explains that communicating on
the internet can actually decrease
loneliness and social anxiety for
adolescents.
Teenagers On The Internet
• Family life can also have an effect on teenagers use and
dependence on the internet.
• “There was some indication that participants who reported
receiving less support from their parents were more likely
to have met an online acquaintance and to have become
good friends with him or her.” (Subrahmanyam, Lin, 2007).
•The overall well-being and selfconfidence of teenagers can be
positively effected by
Communication on the internet.
Teenagers On The Internet
• Remember that the use of the internet does not always
have positive effects on young adults.
• It can increase loneliness and separation from family.
• “…and frequency of Internet use was negatively related to
adolescents' perception about the quality of family relationships
(Mesch, 2003)” (Subrahmanyam, Lin, 2007).
• It can increase social anxiety
• Isolation can take place if teenagers do not also communicate
face-to-face.
• The Internet can weaken social ties.
• Concerns for safety (strangers and predators online)
• Internet use should be in moderation for all teenagers.
• Research continues to be done on the changing
effects of the internet on teens.
College Students On The
Internet
• As teenagers get older there is a time where they leave
home and venture to college. Luckily, today families are
able to stay close through the use of the internet.
• “From birth, these individuals have
been exposed to technology that
was not invented in previous
generations”(Janusik, L., & Wolvin,
A.,2009).
• The internet allows for busy college students to
talk to there families as well as write a paper, do
research, check the news and one’s email all at the
same time.
College Students On The
Internet
• When I went off to college I remembering so thankful for
the internet. I was able to video chat and send many
emails daily to my family.
• As technology grows its clear that it continues to play a
bigger and bigger role in college students lives.
• “Not surprisingly, student communicators spend a
considerable amount of time communicating through
mediated communication channels and less time
communicating in face-to-face interactions” (Janusik, L., &
Wolvin, A.,2009).
How do Internet Communication and
Relationships fit together?
• Ability to meet people you otherwise may
not have the opportunity too, (meeting
people and creating relationships)
• Enhancing existing relationships with
family and friends.
• Maintaining long distance relationships.
(Shedleskey & Aitkin, 2004)
Online Relationships: Good or
Evil?
• Some of the online
relationships result in a
strong bond that is
similar to a face-to-face
relationship
• But in most cases,
individuals incorporate
a fantasy, stereotypical,
idealized, nature to the
relationship, which they
perceive as reality
(Shedleskey & Aitkin
146).
How Internet Communication may
effect a relationship.
• Google-ing a person before going to
meet them on a blind date.
• Online dating services.
• Chat rooms Social networking sites in
general.
(Shedleskey & Aitkin, 2004)
Teens are Obsessed with Sex,
Drugs, and Violence on Myspace
• More than half the
adolescents discussed
sexual behavior, drugs or
violence or other highly
risky activities using
MySpace, the popular
social networking website
or other social
networking site,
according to research
(Archives of Pediatric &
Adolescent Medicine).
Teens are Obsessed with Sex,
Drugs, and Violence on Myspace
• The study was to
see how what these
teens had on their
myspace pages
reflected who they
were, and how much
time they spent on
the site.
• The twin studies were led
by research fellow Megan
A. Moreno and Dimitri
Christakis, of the Centre
for Child Health, Behavior
and Development at
Seattle Children’s
Research Institute (SCRI)
and the University of
Washington (Archives of
Pediatric & Adolescent
Medicine).
Teens are Obsessed with Sex,
Drugs, and Violence on Myspace
• 54 percent of the
• 24 percent
MySpace profiles
referencing sexual
contained high-risk
behavior and 14
behavior information,
percent referencing
with 41 percent
violence (Archives of
referencing substance
Pediatric &
abuse.
Adolescent
Medicine).
Teens are Obsessed with Sex,
Drugs, and Violence on Myspace
• Profiles that
demonstrated church or
religious involvement
were associated with
decreased displays of
risky behaviors, as were
profiles that indicated
engagement in sports
or hobbies (Archives of
Pediatric & Adolescent
Medicine).
Teens are Obsessed with Sex,
Drugs, and Violence on Myspace
• In the study, females
were less likely to display
violent information than
males, and teens who
reported a sexual
orientation other than
“straight” showed
increased displays of
references to sexual
behaviors (Archives of
Pediatric & Adolescent
Medicine).
Teens are Obsessed with Sex,
Drugs, and Violence on Myspace
• In the 90s we talked about a digital divide that
separated rich from poor. That divide is quickly
narrowing, but a new one is emerging rapidly:
the 21st century digital divide separates too
many clueless parents from their Internet-savvy
children (Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent
Medicine).
Teens are Obsessed with Sex,
Drugs, and Violence on Myspace
• Does this mean that
those teenagers
who spent more
time online, and less
doing other
extracurricular
activities were more
likely to see
negative side effects
from their online
involvement?
YES!
• The more time spent
on the Internet, the
more comfortable
people feel with their
new “friends” and the
more obsessed they
become
Steps toward more personal online
relationships
• In an article John Suler claims there to be
steps, technologically speaking toward more
intimate relationships.
1. Message boards, special interest group sites, social
networking personal pages he refers to this as “one
to many”, or Many readers to the one creator.
2. Then onto more private/personal means such as
instant messaging, and private emails.
***He has also included some pros and cons to be
shared on the next slide****
(Suler, 2000)
Some pros and cons to relational
development online
Pros
• Convenience
• A feeling of “meeting
of the minds”
• Time to think out
and carefully draft
your thoughts to the
other person.
Cons
• Elimination of face-toface interaction
• No voice to connect
with.
• People who are very
verbal in person may
not be online and vice
versa.
(Suler, 2000)
A Case Study Online Communication
and Relationships Con’t
• This study examined how development of an
interpersonal relationship is impacted by the
use of Instant messaging on adolescents.
• The results concluded a positive and
significant influence of forming and
maintaining individual friendships and
interpersonal relationships as related to
instant messaging
(Lee, Yueh-Chiang, Sun, Ya Chung, 2009)
Personal Thoughts on Internet
Communication & Relationships
• Right now isn’t going to be the same as three years
from now just as three years before is much
different than now, when in comes to internet
communication. With the development of social
networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and
Myspace have come new opportunities with
communication and networking. Even the addition
of webcams eliminate a certain mechanical aspect
of meeting someone online, because to a certain
extent you can still achieve that face to face.
***Simply some food for thought***
Bibliography
• Baym, Nancy. "Social Interactions Across Media Interpersonal
Communication on the Internet, Telephone and Face-to-Face." New
Media & Society. 2004. University of Kansas, Web. 14 Oct 2009.
<http://nms.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/6/3/299>.
• "Teens Obsessed with Sex, Drugs, and Violence on Myspace."
ThaiIndian News. 06 Jan 2009. Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent
Medicine, Web. 14 Oct 2009.
<http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/sci-tech/teens-obsessedwith-sex-drugs-and-violence-onmyspace_100138831.html#ixzz0Ty5rFqKj>.
• Suler, J. (2000). Hypotheses about Online Text Relationships . In
The Psychology of Cyber Space. Retrieved October, 2009, from
http://www-usr.rider.edu/~suler/psycyber/textrel.html
Bibliography
• Janusik, L., & Wolvin, A. (2009). 24 Hours in a Day: A Listening Update to
the Time Studies. International Journal of Listening, 23(2), 104-120.
http://search.ebscohost.com, doi:10.1080/10904010903014442
• Wahl, S., McBride, M., & Schrodt, P. (2005). Becoming "Point and Click"
Parents: A Case Study of Communication and Online Adoption. Journal of
Family Communication, 5(4), 279-294. http://search.ebscohost.com
• Subrahmanyam, K., & Lin, G. (2007). ADOLESCENTS ON THE NET:
INTERNET USE AND WELL-BEING. Adolescence, 42(168), 659-677.
http://search.ebscohost.com.prxy3.ursus.maine.edu
• Pictures from Clip art
• Shedletsky, J. L. & Aitken, E. J. (2004). Communication on the internet.
Pearson Education, Inc.
Bibliography
• Goldsborough, R. (2006). Anonymity vs. Security, Online. Community
College Week, 19(1), 22.
http://search.ebscohost.com.prxy3.ursus.maine.edu
•
Suler, J. (2004). The Online Disinhibition Effect. CyberPsychology &
Behavior, 7(3), 321-326.
http://search.ebscohost.com.prxy3.ursus.maine.edu,
doi:10.1089/1094931041291295
• McDaniel, Anita K. (2005) Looking at email:: A method for teaching
interpersonal communication theories and principles to undergraduate
students. Electronic Journal of Communication, (15, 3/4.)
Bibliography
• Morio, Hiroaki and Buchholz, Christopher. (2009) How anonymous are you
online? Examining online social behaviors from a cross-cultural perspective.
AI & Society, (23, 2) 297-307.
• Verberber, Kathleen et.al. (2007) Inter-Act, 11 ed. New York: Oxford
University Press.
• Wilkin, Holley et.al. (2007) Comparing the communication ecologies of geoethnic communities: How people stay on top of their community. Electronic
Journal of Communication, (17, 1/2.)
• Mitra, Ananda (2005). Differences in using computers for communication
based on the 'communicative effectiveness' of computers. Electronic Journal
of Communication. 15 (3/4).
Bibliography
• Lee, Y., & Sun, Y. (2009). USING INSTANT MESSAGING TO
ENHANCE THE INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS OF
TAIWANESE ADOLESCENTS: EVIDENCE FROM QUANTILE
REGRESSION ANALYSIS. Adolescence, 44(173), 199-208.
• Suler, J. (2000). Hypotheses about Online Text Relationships .
In The Psychology of Cyber Space. Retrieved October, 2009,
from http://www-usr.rider.edu/~suler/psycyber/textrel.html