2. Definition
Social Information Processing (SIP) Theory
Is an interpersonal communication theory that
suggests that online interpersonal relationship
development might require more time to develop
than traditional face-to-face relationships. Joseph
Walther developed this theory in 1992.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_information_processing_theory
3. Social Information
Processing
o SIP is gaining information from another
individual to form a interpersonal impression
of who they are.
o The mental image that a person defines
impressions in the mind of another person .
4. Looking at the Theory
• SIP Theory is consistent with
oSocial Penetration Theory
oUncertainty Reduction Theory
CMC (computer-mediated messages)
5. Looking at the Theory
Hyper-Personal: CMC relationships that they are more
intimate than romances or friendships would be if
partners were together.
Interpersonal Impression Relationship
Information Formation Development
6. Sender/Receiver
Sender
Model
(selective self-presentation)
o What they want to reveal about themselves.
Receiver (Over-attribution of similarity)
o Creates an idealized image of their partner.
Channel (communicating on your own time)
o Allows the users express themselves the way they want,
when they want.
Feedback (self-selected prophecy)
o is the person’s expectation of other, to evoke a response
from them that confirms what he or she anticipated.
7. Differences
Online communication Face-to-Face
o Facial Expressions
o CMC users form impressions by
the content of the message o Tone of Voice
o Body position
o The response time of the o Interpersonal distance
message
o Gestures
o Delayed response
o Prompt response
o Touch
o Relationship Stage
o Tone the sender wants to convey
11. CMC Users
o Discussion sites
o Support groups
o Dating sites
o Chat rooms
o CMC users join online discussion and chat rooms
have a higher need for affiliations than typical
person whose relationship is developed.
12. Advantages
• Convince of sending the message in your own
time.
• The Intimacy of the relationship would be the
same if they meet face-to-face.
13. Disadvantages
o People become more self-absorbed and less
inhibited
o CMC relationship will be weaker/fragile (when
establishing the relationship)
o Logging off
o Terminating the relationship
o Impersonal
o Task-oriented
14. The ‘Information Superhighway’ is clearly not
just a road for moving data from one place to
another, but a roadside where people pass
each other, occasionally meet, and decide to
travel together.
You can’t see very much of other driver’s at
first, unless you do the travel together.
There are highway bandits, to be sure, who are
not shy as they appear to be – one must drive
defensively-and there are conflicts and
disagreements online as there are off-road too.
15. While early research suggested that numerous
interpersonal collisions were impending,
recent research finds that interpersonal
information moves at slower speeds,
and in doing so, the roadway is not as dangerous
as once thought. IT scan offer a relational
joyride. 25
16. Conclusion
The Theory proves that there is no difference on
the long term effect of the relationship, where
the two individuals meet:
• Online
• Face-to-Face
That it would not have an effect of the Intimacy of the
relationship.
17. Conclusion
• The Theory proves that the an online relationships
will take longer with the communication channels
compared to an face-to-face communication
channel
• The Theory shows that the CMC Users
are more than likely to be Single
rather than in a current
relationship
18.
19. Definition of topic
References
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_information_processing_theory sighted on the 11/10/2011
Investigation of topic
http://www.afirstlook.com/edition_7/theory_resources/Social_Information_Processing_Theory sighted on
11/10/2011
Image on S.4
http://www.techfollow.net/google-is-re-defining-the-way-we-do-online-communication-through-google-
apps/ sighted on the 15/10/2011.
Image on S.8
http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/cheekd/IDBgmZHBUoW9PrXyhjQRQDM4UoiM1DeotdwmP
u8MBghg6H4i6uONyQs6aFWs/wpid-1284925074_fv-online-dati.jpg sighted on the 15/10/2011.
Image on S.8
http://thebigbangtheoryepisodes.blogspot.com/2010/05/friendship-algorithm.html sighted on the 16/10/2011
Editor's Notes
SocialPeneration TheoryUncertainty Reduction Theory
Sender:What they want to revealTo make a positive impression to the receiver. Because they can write about their most attractive tratis, accomplishments. Without fear of their appearance. Where they are protected with their cyber image.Receiver:Creates an idealized image of their partner That the receiver will make judgement of how the sender has communicated with the message they have send. We often over attribute the meagre inforamtion that we have and create an idealized image of the sender. Where a specfic action we see reflects the persons personality
Looking at the tone of the message that the person has sent ( gesture smiley faces, tone of the message)Delayed reponse -