Interplay, 13th Edition chapter 03

CHAPTER 3
Interpersonal Communication and
the Self
Interplay, 13th Edition, Adler/Rosenfeld/Proctor
Copyright © 2015 by Oxford University Press, Inc.

Section 1
COMMUNICATION AND
THE SELF-CONCEPT
Interplay

Communication and the Self-
Concept
 Self-concept =
relatively stable set of
perceptions you hold of
yourself
 Self-esteem = part of
the self-concept that
involves evaluations of
self-worth
 High or low self-
esteem affects
communication
behavior

How the Self-Concept Develops
 Reflected appraisal = A
mirroring of the judgments
of those around you
 “Significant others” =
People whose evaluations
are especially influential
 Our self-concept is partly
formed through reflected
appraisal
 Benefits
 Pitfalls

How the Self-Concept Develops
 Social comparison =
Evaluating ourselves in
terms of how we
compare with others
 Reference groups =
People against whom
we evaluate (compare)
our own characteristics
 Peers
 Family members
 Social Groups

Characteristics of the Self-
Concept
 The self-concept is
subjective
 We inflate and/or
underestimate our
self-perception
 Causes:
 obsolete information
 distorted feedback
 the myth of
perfection
 social expectations

Characteristics of the Self-
Concept
 A healthy self-concept is
flexible, but…
 The self-concept resists
change
 Cognitive conservatism =
Seeking information that
conforms to an existing
self-concept

Changing Our Self-Concept
 Four requirements to
change:
 Trusting an appraisal by
someone we see as
competent to offer it
 Appraisal must be
perceived as highly
personal
reasonable in light of
what we believe about
ourselves
consistent and
numerous Interplay, 13th Edition, Adler/Rosenfeld/Proctor

The Self-Fulfilling
Prophecy and Communication
 Self-fulfilling prophecy = When a person’s expectations of an
event and his or her subsequent behavior based on those
expectations make the outcome more likely to occur than would
otherwise have been the case.
 Four stages:
 Holding an expectation (for yourself or for others).
 You believe: “I’m too dumb to pass this class.”
 Behaving in accordance with that expectation
 You tell yourself: “Why study? I’m just going to fail…”
 The expectation coming to pass
 The result: You fail the class.
 Reinforcing the original expectation
 You tell yourself: “I knew it. I’m too dumb. I should drop out of
school.”

Types of Self-Fulfilling
Prophecies
 Self-imposed prophecies:
 Your own expectations
influence your behavior
 When one person’s
expectations govern another’s
actions, whether positive or
negative
 Observer must communicate
their belief for the prediction
to have an effect
 Belief can be communicated
in many different ways

Section 2
PRESENTING THE SELF
Interplay

Identity Management
 Identity Management
= The communication
strategies people use
to influence how
others view them

Public and Private Selves
 Perceived self = The
person you believe
yourself to be in moments
of honest self-reflection
 Presenting self = Public
image—the way we want
to appear to others
 “Facework” = Verbal
and nonverbal ways we
act in order to maintain
our presenting image
and the image of others

Characteristics of Identity
Management
 We strive to construct
multiple identities.
 We design identities to
fulfill our different “roles”
(parent, child, student,
employee, etc.)
 Identity management
is collaborative.
 We improvise scenes
where our character reacts
with others.
 We all collaborate in this
“theater of life”

Characteristics of Identity
Management
 Identity management can be
deliberate or unconscious.
 Deliberate Examples:
 Work = “conscientious” employee
 School = “studious” student
 Parent = “good” child
 Peers = “popular” peer
 Significant other = “considerate”
partner
 We unconsciously act in small
public performances by making a
particular facial expression or
using a particular tone of voice.

Face-to-Face Impression
Management
 In our Manner…
 Words
 Nonverbal actions
 In our Appearance…
 How we dress
 How we “look”
 We use personal
items to help shape
an image
 Our Setting…
 We use physical items
to influence how
others view us
 Decorating our
“spaces”
 Home
 Workplace
 Vehicles

Impression Management in
Social Media
 The Internet offers an
opportunity for people to
present themselves in a
variety of ways.
 In mediated identity
management, manner,
appearance, and setting
can change
 The “Catfish”
Phenomenon
 How do these changes
make it easier or more
difficult to manage
identity?
 Here’s a video depicting
online deception. Interplay, 13th Edition, Adler/Rosenfeld/Proctor

Identity Management and Honesty
 Deception in cyberspace
is common.
 People sometimes
misrepresent themselves
to gain the trust of others.
 There is not only one
honest way to behave in
every circumstance.
 Impression management
involves deciding which
face—which part of
yourself—to reveal.

Section 3
DISCLOSING THE SELF
Interplay

Disclosing the Self
 Self-disclosure =
Information about the self
that is purposefully
communicated to another
person
 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
(Altman and Taylor)
 Two dimensions:
 Breadth of information shared
 Depth of information shared
 Development of a relationship is a progression from the
periphery of the model to its center (sometimes, it is like a
spiral)
 Types of information revealed:
 Clichés—ritualized, stock responses
 Facts
 Opinions
 Feelings

Models of Self-Disclosure

Benefits of/Reasons for Self-
Disclosure
 Benefits/Reasons:
 Catharsis (release)
 Self-clarification
 Self-validation
 Reciprocity
 Impression formation
 Relationship
maintenance and
enhancement
 Moral obligation

Risks of Self-Disclosure
 Risks:
 Rejection
 Negative impression
 Decrease in relational
satisfaction
 Loss of influence
 Loss of control
 Hurt the other person

Guidelines for Self Disclosure
Before you self-disclose, ask yourself:
 Is the other person important to me?
 Is the risk of disclosing reasonable?
 Is the self-disclosure appropriate?
 Is the disclosure reciprocated?
 Will the effect be constructive?

Alternatives to Self-Disclosure
 Silence
 Lying
 Benevolent lies—not
malicious
 Equivocation
 Equivocal language
= Two or more
plausible meanings
 Hinting
 We hint to get
desired response
from other person

The Ethics of Evasion
 Evasion provides a way to
manage difficult situations,
but…
 There are times when honesty
is the right approach, even
when it’s painful
 Before you lie or evade, ask
yourself:
 Are the effects of a lie worth it in the
long term?
 Is the indirect message in the interest
of the receiver?
 Is evasion the only way to behave?
 How would others respond if they
knew what you were really
thinking/feeling? Interplay, 13th Edition, Adler/Rosenfeld/Proctor

Interplay, 13th Edition chapter 03

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Editor's Notes