Communicating IdentityThe Social Self

Overview of Chapter

Chapter covers two very broad areas of research

1. Personal identity (who and what we think we are)

2. Public identity (the image we present publically)

These two concepts are overlapping, but not identical.

Activate your brain

List 10 characteristics of who you are.

Circle those that you believe to be positive traits.

The more you circle, the higher your self-esteem. Note that identity and self-esteem are not the same

thing.

List 5 things you did today to manage your public identity.

What is Personal Identity?

Identity is a “theory of self that is formed and maintained through actual or imagined interpersonal agreement about what the self is like” (Schlenker)

The way we see ourselves is shaped by our interactions with others, including how people respond to us.

Identity is related to but different than self-esteem, which refers to how positively versus negatively we see ourselves.

Theories Related to Development and Expansion of Identities

Social Identity Theory (SIT)

Concepts of self are linked to membership in social groups

Can be broad (gender, age, ethnicity, or nationality) or narrow (group of friends)

Social groups use in-group behaviors & markers to create solidarity and display their identity

What examples of identity markers can you think of?

What aspects of identity are illustrated in these pictures?

SIT - cont….

Impact of group membership on our identity influenced by: How central group is to self-view

Examples—ethnic minority, national minority, gang affiliation, religious affiliation, sexual orientation

Why?

Communication Theory of Identity (Hecht)

Identity is constructed through four frames: Personal Frame: images people construct

about themselves Enactment Frame: images that reflect a

person’s interaction with others Relationship Frame: the roles we play

with particular relational partners Communal Frame: images that are tied to

the groups or communities with which a person associates

All of these frames interact in constructing identity

“Complicated”

Culture and Ethnic Identity

Ethnic identity African American, Asian American, Hispanic

Some identities relate to a country South Korea, Canada, Mexico

Some identities relate to color Person of color? White, Black

Caucasian or European AmericanBlack or African American

What about mixed ethnic backgrounds?

Creating an Identity

Modern ways to “remake” identity Examples?

Iconic Public Figures (book uses Clinton & Bush) What role do celebrities play in creating

identities? Good? and bad?

Millennial Identity in the Twenteens

Millennials or Generation Y Research suggests they are more self-

absorbed, self-centered, confident, entitled, narcissistic, hedonistic, image conscious, and sexually active than their parents (Generation X)

Do you agree?

Generation My Space (Kelsey 2007)

Rules of the My Space Generation

Entertainment rules! Life is about video games and social networking.

If you’ve got it, flaunt it. Modesty is uncool; privacy is lame; sexuality, looks and materialism, are paths to success.

Happiness is a glamorous adult. Fame is the ultimate goal; or at least looking like rock or screen star is imperative.

Happiness is about consumption. Materialism and sex are the ultimate goals.

Do you agree?

Positive of Millenniels

Connection to peers like never before

Less street crime (?? Why??)

Tech and information savvy

Identity, Perception, and Self-Esteem

Purpose of this section is to remind us that although identity and self-esteem are related, they are not the same concept.

Book uses “Partier” Other examples?

Expanding Identity

Self-Expansion Theory Based on three premises:

1. People want to expand their experiences and extend their identities

2. This desire for expansion helps explain why we enter into relationships with others

3. A relationship is successful when it expands both partners’ identities (not when people lose their identity)

Relationships stagnate when expansion stops (infidelity?)

Inclusion of Other-in-Self Scale

self other self other other otherself self

self other

otherself otherself

Instructions: Which drawing best fits your relationship?

Principles of Identity Management

1. Identities provide us with a hierarchical structure of who we are—fringe to core

2. Identities are shaped through interaction and feedback from others--

The Looking Glass Self

3. Identities help us interpret feedback from others (for less central features, feedback more easily assimilated). Why?

Principles of Identity Management, cont.

4. Identities incorporate expectations and guide behavior. (self-fulfilling prophecy)

5. Identities influence our evaluations of self.

6. Identity influences the likelihood of goal achievement. (self-fulfilling prophecy)

7. Identities influence the social relationships we choose to pursue and/or maintain.

Dating vs. marriage?

Self-presentation involves portraying a particular image of self to others.

Self-Presentation

Issues Related to Self Presentation

(1) Is Self-Presentation Hypocritical, Manipulative or Deceptive? Fabricated identities do occur (Facebook,

MySpace, dating sites) Display rules Emotional laborBolstering efforts can backfire

Perceived as insincere or self-focused Dilemma of online dating or first dates (balancing

positivity and plausibility)

Issues Related to Self Presentation, cont.

(2) How is self-presentation related to communication competence? Communication competence includes behaviors that

are effective and appropriate (book has error on p. 35—polite instead of effective) Competent people are better able to read

situation and produce more effective and appropriate message about identityLess important for friendsMore important early in dating relationships

Affinity Seeking Behaviors (appearing interested, emphasizing similarities, image as a fun person)

Issues Related to Self Presentation, cont.

(3) To what extent is self-presentation a deliberate, conscious activity? Answer: It depends Some degree of self-presentation is

automatic. Examples?

When does self-presentation become more strategic? Examples?

Pretend to be busy

Goffman’s Dramaturgical Perspective

Face=the positive image we seek to maintain during interaction.

Interaction is like a performance (drama metaphor)StageLinesPropsAudienceCostume

(Use these notes rather than pp. 37-45 in text)

Front stage vs. back stageJust like actors ready themselves

for performance on stage, we prepare ourselves in the back stage and interact in the front stage.

These two spaces overlap somewhat when close others are part of the back stage. Roommates, family, other servers at a

restaurant

Goffman’s Dramaturgical Perspective, cont.

Goffman, cont.

Losing face induces embarrassmentMisspeaking lines, dropping props, etc.

People can be heartless or shamelessHeartless = watching others lose face

and not even careShameless = losing one’s own face and

not caring

Two General Types of Facework: Preventive and Corrective

(1) Preventive Facework Strategies that minimize or prevent

potential threats to face: Disclaimers & Tact

I may be wrong but This may be a stupid question but Q: How’s my paper? A: “It’s a good

start” Politeness (more on later slide)

Two General Types of Facework: Preventive and Corrective

(2) Corrective Facework Strategies that people use to repair a damaged face:

Avoidance (ignoring) Humor Apologies (accept responsibility & express regret) Accounts: excuses and justifications

Excuse = not my faultJustification = not a big deal

Physical remediation Aggression

Facework Strategies

Carrie and Mr. Big

How to respond to a telemarketer

Corrective Facework, cont.

Choice of corrective strategy based on Context

e.g. relationship, setting, formality, private/professional, etc.

Nature of offense which contributes to severity of face lossHumor works when you drop your pen in class

but won’t work well if you spill your coffee on someone’s clothes

Corrective Facework, cont.

Effectiveness of remedial strategies will vary— Depends on whether other people present

accept offering Is it perceived as sincere? Is it appropriate for offense?

To be caught having an intimate dinner with someone other than your dating partner will take much more carefully constructed remedial work than being 10 mins. late for a date.

Brown & Levinson’s Politeness Brown & Levinson’s Politeness TheoryTheory

Key points:

1. B & L build on Goffman’s notion of face

2. However, they describe two types of face needs: positive and negative.

3. Their theory focuses on preventative facework rather than corrective.

Face Threat or Loss Sequence

PREVENTIVE CORRECTIVE FACEWORK FACEWORK

Disclaimers Apology Tact Account Politeness

Excuse JustificationRemediationHumorAvoidanceAggression

Face Threat

Face Loss

FaceRestored

Interaction continues

Politeness Theory, cont.

Positive Face Need (the dog) is the desire to be valued and included by relevant or significant others

Politeness Theory, cont.

Negative Face Need (the cat) the desire to be free from imposition and restraint and to have control of time, property, space, and resources

Four Assumptions of Politeness Theory

1. Threats to positive and negative face are an inherent part of social interaction.

Some actions threaten both types of face.

e.g., complaints Some actions stroke one type of face

while simultaneously threatening the other.

e.g., gifts Some actions stroke the listener’s face

while simultaneously threatening the speaker’s face.

e.g., apology

Assumptions, cont.

2. Positive and negative face can be validated as well as threatened during interactionStudy by Albas & Albas: students bolster positive face without bragging

3. People are motivated to avoid Face Threatening Acts—(FTAs)

Politeness strategies are communicative devices that allow us to manage these face-threatening acts (FTAs).

Five types of strategies (Efficiency by Politeness)

Hi Eff. Low Pol.

Do the FTA bald-on-record

Do the FTA with positive politeness

Do the FTA with negative politeness

Do the FTA off-record (hinting)

Don’t do the FTA Low Eff. High Pol

Assumptions, cont.

4. FTAs vary in degree of severity

Severity = Power, Distance, Rank (PDR)

Power of speaker over listener Who will be more polite?

Distance between speaker & hearerMore or less polite to close others?

Rank of imposition (next slide)Severity of the threat

Negative Face Impositions:Anything that requires goods, services or

restricts other may be lessened depending upon obligation (legally, morally, employment) and enjoyment possible in performing the act

Positive Face Impositions: Anything that devalues worth, credibility, or self-esteem of other. Rankings are both cultural (success, beauty, strength, intelligence) and personal (idiosyncratic).

Rank of Imposition

Reflection

Have you threatened someone’s positive face today?

Have you threatened someone’s negative face today?

Have you used politeness today?Have you stroked someone’s positive face today?Have you stroked someone’s negative face today?