Who are you? Social roles: student, daughter, boss, husband Physical characteristics: tall, short, beautiful… Intellectual: smart, curious, stupid, inquisitive… Moods, Attitudes: optimistic, critical, energetic Belief system: liberal, atheist, Christian  Skills: swimmer, carpenter, artist, musician, Ethnic/cultural: Asian, Black, Irish, Latino/a Socioeconomics: poor, rich, blue collar, white

collar, middle class, etc.

Identity and Communication Identity is a foundation from which

the communication process operates.

  Our social identities are powerful

influences on our views of ourselves and others and how we communicate.

Communication and the Self-Concept

Self-concept, defined: A relatively stable set of perceptions you hold

of yourself. Imagine a special mirror that reflect physical

features and allow you to view other aspects of yourself.

Reflection is your self-concept.

How Self-Concept Develops

Reflected Appraisal Social Comparison

importance of Reference Groups

Your Own Interpretations/Reflections

How the Self-Concept Develops

Reflected appraisal, defined: A mirroring of the

judgments of those around you.

“Significant others” are people whose evaluations are especially influential.

.

Social Comparison

Social comparison, defined: Evaluating ourselves in terms of how we

compare with others. Reference groups

People we use to evaluate our own characteristics.

How can social comparison give a person an overly positive or overly negative self-concept?

Characteristics of Self-Concept Subjective Conservative

The Self-Concept is Subjective

We inflate and/or underestimate our self-perception.

How may an individual’s self-perception be influenced by: obsolete information? distorted feedback? the myth of perfection? social expectations?

The Self-Concept Resists Change

Why do we resist revision of our self-perception?

Cognitive conservatism, defined: Seeking information that conforms to an

existing self-concept.

Influences on Self-Concept Community Family Culture Ethnicity Sex / Gender roles

Identity Management

Identity management, defined: The communication strategies people use to

influence how others view them.

Public and Private Selves

Characteristics of Identity Management

Identity management is collaborative “Process theater” in which we improvise scenes

where our character reacts with others. What happens when someone rejects or does not

collaborate with our identity management attempts?

Characteristics of Identity Management

Identity management can be deliberate or unconscious What situations would require deliberate

identity management? We unconsciously act in small public

performances, making a particular facial expression or using a particular tone of voice.

Interplay, 12th Edition, Adler/Rosenfeld/ProctorCopyright © 2012 by Oxford University Press, Inc.

Characteristics of Identity Management

People differ in their degrees of identity management

What are advantages to being a high self-monitor? Drawbacks?

Why Manage Impressions?

Social rules Personal goals Relational goals It is impossible not to

create impressions

How Do We Manage Impressions? Face-to-face impression management

Manner / Words / Nonverbal actions Appearance / Personal items people use to shape an

image Clothing / Hairstyle / Personal affects

Setting Physical items people use to influence how others

view them “Artifacts” decorate the space we live in Automobiles / Artwork

Identity Management and Honesty People sometimes misrepresent themselves to gain the

trust of others. What are examples of ethical or honest identity

management? Not only one honest way to behave in every

circumstance. Impression management involves deciding which face—

which part of yourself—to reveal.

Self Disclosure: Choosing What to Reveal

Self-disclosure Every verbal or nonverbal behavior we engage in is

self-revealing Distinguishing factors of self-disclosure:

Honesty Depth Availability of information Context of sharing

Models of Self-Disclosure Degrees of Self-Disclosure: The Social Penetration

Model Two dimensions:

Breadth of information volunteered Depth of information volunteered

Types of information revealed: Clichés—ritualized, stock responses to social situations Facts Opinions Feelings

Awareness of Self-Disclosure: The Johari Window Model

Johari Window Frame contains likes, dislikes, goals, secrets, needs. Part 1: Open area; information of which both you and

the other person are aware. Part 2: Blind area; information of which you are

unaware, but the other person knows. Part 3: Hidden area; information that you know, but

aren’t willing to reveal to others. Part 4: Unknown area: information unknown to you

and others.

Benefits of Self-Disclosure

Catharsis Self-clarification Self-validation Reciprocity Impression formation Relationship maintenance and enhancement Moral obligation Social influence Self-defense

Risks of Self-Disclosure

Rejection Negative impression Decrease in relational satisfaction Loss of influence Loss of control Hurt the other person

Guidelines for Self Disclosure

Is the other person important to you? Is the risk of disclosing reasonable?

Is the self-disclosure appropriate? Is the disclosure reciprocated? Will the effect be constructive?

The Self-Fulfilling Prophecy Occurs when a person’s

expectations of an event/accomplishment/failure/etc. make that more likely to happen

Your own S-F prophecy Others S-F prophecy about you

The Self-Fulfilling Prophecy and Communication

Self-fulfilling prophecy, defined: When a person expectations of an event, and her or high

subsequent behavior based on those expectations, make the outcome more likely to occur than would otherwise have true.

Four stages: Holding an expectation (for yourself or for others) Behaving in accordance with that expectation The expectation coming to pass Reinforcing the original expectation

.

Types of Self-Fulfilling Prophecies Self-imposed

Your own expectations influence your behavior. Research: “Communicators who believed they were

incompetent proved less likely than others to pursue rewarding relationships and more likely to sabotage their existing relationships.”

When a person’s expectations govern another’s actions, whether positive or negative. “Pygmalion” effect = positive “Golem” effect = negative

Communication and Self-Esteem

Self-esteem, defined: Part of the self-concept

that involves evaluations of self-worth.

How does high or low self-esteem affect communication behavior?

What do the authors mean by: “Although self-esteem has obvious benefits, it doesn’t guarantee interpersonal success”?

Self-esteem vs. self-concept Changing your self-concept or improving self-esteem

Improving self-esteem Attack your self-destructive beliefs

Improving self-esteem Be realistic about yourself and the

world

Improving self-esteem Don’t allow yourself to rationalize

failure

Improving self-esteem Engage in self-affirmation

Improving self-esteem Seek out nourishing (but fair)

people

Improving self-esteem Be reasonable: e.g., work on

projects that are comparable with your skills