The concept of "self" encompasses an individual's understanding and awareness of their own identity, incorporating elements such as beliefs, values, emotions, behaviors, and experiences. This multifaceted and interdisciplinary notion is connected to various aspects of a person's personality, social roles, and interactions with others.

1. Yiğit Kalafatoğlu
Ph.D 2023 – İstanbul Bilgi University
There is a self within me,
deeper than myself.
The concept of "self" encompasses an individual's understanding and awareness of their own
identity, incorporating elements such as beliefs, values, emotions, behaviors, and experiences.
This multifaceted and interdisciplinary notion is connected to various aspects of a person's
personality, social roles, and interactions with others.
Theorists such as George Herbert Mead and W. B. Pearce contend that communication is integral
to the formation of the self. From their standpoint, the self materializes through social
engagement and communicative processes, with individuals perpetually interacting with others
and negotiating their identities.
Mead, specifically, underscored the importance of "symbolic interactionism" in the evolution of
the self. He posited that the self is not a static construct but is instead developed and continually
reshaped through social interactions and the employment of symbols, including language,
gestures, and expressions.
“He saw the human being as an organism having a self. The possession of a self converts
the human being into a special kind of actor, transforms his relation to the world, and
gives his action a unique character. In asserting that the human being has a self, Mead
simply meant that the human being is an object to himself. The human being may
perceive himself, have conceptions of himself, communicate with himself, and act toward
himself.” (Blumer, 1969, pg. 2)
He put forth two dimensions of the self: the "I" and the "me." The "I" symbolizes the self's
spontaneous, inventive, and impetuous facets, while the "me" signifies the self's socialized,
contemplative, and structured aspects.
O'Boyle enlightens Mead's distinction between the 'I' and 'Me,' arguing that the self consists of
these two distinct elements. According to Mead, the 'Me' embodies the social self, while the 'I'
denotes the more introspective self. He maintains that, unlike the 'Me,' we do not possess
immediate awareness of the 'I' in a specific moment; rather, our recognition of it emerges after
we have responded to a situation. (O’ Boyle, 2022, p. 34).
Within this framework, revealing personal information to others through communication serves
not only as a means of information exchange but also as an active process that molds the self. By
divulging personal experiences, emotions, and thoughts, individuals participate in a dynamic
process of self-discovery and self-definition. This process can foster personal development, self-
awareness, and an enhanced comprehension of one's position in social contexts. This also
illustrates why communication not only discloses but also generates.

2. Taking the symbolic interactionist perspective into account, it can be posited that individuals can
establish and even co-create meanings through their interactions and communicative exchanges.
As they partake in these exchanges, they are constantly sculpting their own and others' identities,
as well as their perceptions of the world.
Through communication, individuals express, negotiate, and affirm their identities. The manner
in which they present themselves, their beliefs, and their values is influenced by the
communicative context and interactions with others. In turn, these interactions can also mold and
transform their sense of self.
In today's context, with the rise of new media, the active and transformative aspects of
communication are more evident as individuals participate in continuous exchanges of ideas,
thoughts, emotions, and experiences.
While communicating, they collaboratively construct meaning, shaping their perceptions of the
world, one another, and themselves. Hence, communication is crucial in creating and sustaining
social reality. Individuals communicate to set norms, values, and regulations within a specific
social group or culture, thereby generating a collective comprehension of their environment and
societal expectations. Communication can also serve as a potent instrument for persuasion or
influencing others, potentially modifying their beliefs, attitudes, or actions.
Moreover, communication acts as the foundation for relationships, whether personal or
professional. It enables people to form, maintain, and modify their connections with others.
Through engaging in communication, individuals can create shared experiences, cultivate trust,
and manage conflicts, ultimately shaping the character of their relationships.
In this regard, the private/public dichotomy pertains to the distinction between an individual's
private, personal experiences and emotions, and their public role or persona within society. In
terms of communication, the private dimension encompasses one's internal thoughts, feelings,
and experiences, while the public dimension entails the manner in which one presents themselves
in social settings, adhering to societal expectations and norms.
In their study titled "Uncertainty Reduction Among Ethnicities in the United States," Judith A.
Sanders and Richard L. Wiseman emphasize that communication generates understanding (or a
reduction of uncertainty) and thus serves as the basis of relationship development. The desire for
uncertainty reduction is particularly strong in the early stages of relationships when the parties
know little about one another. In order to choose appropriate behaviors to interact with one
another, communicators must be able to predict each other's behavior. As uncertainty is reduced
the parties feel more comfortable with each other and thus like each other more, resulting in
more intimacy. (Sanders., Richard, 1969, pg. 2)
Conversely, Irwin Altman and Dalmas Taylor's Social Penetration Theory posits that
interpersonal relationships evolve from superficial, public levels to deeper, private ones as
individuals reveal increasingly personal information about themselves over time.

3. According to the theory, social relationships (and consequently, the individual self) develop in
layers through both verbal and nonverbal communication, akin to peeling an onion. This
progression moves from superficial, non-intimate aspects to more intimate, deeper layers of the
individuals involved (Altman., Taylor, pg. 6). All types of relationships encompass varying
levels of intimacy and degrees of social penetration. The theory suggests that as relationships
deepen, individuals increasingly share their private selves with others, thereby increasing the
depth of the relationship.
The postmodern perspective on the self, however, calls into question the assumptions of the
Social Penetration Theory. Postmodernism is marked by skepticism towards overarching
narratives and embraces the fluidity, fragmentation, and multiplicity of the self. From this
viewpoint, the self is not a stable, unified entity; instead, it is an ever-changing, context-
dependent construct.
In postmodern discourse, self is displaced as a central presence in experience and reappropriated
as yet another personal signifier. In their paper (Gubrium., Holstein, pg2) describe key
postmodern views, by reframeing postmodern vocabulary in terms of interpretive practice. They
argue that the postmodern framing of self is too abstract and that a distinctly modern discourse
focused on the deprivatization of interpretive activity can account empirically for features of
postmodern "presence."
The Social Penetration Theory can be challenged in light of postmodernity, as the theory
presumes a relatively stable and coherent self that can be incrementally disclosed. In contrast,
postmodernism contends that the self is fluid, possessing multiple aspects that can be highlighted
or downplayed depending on the context. This disputes the linear progression of self-disclosure
suggested by the Social Penetration Theory.
Additionally, postmodernism underscores the influence of context in shaping meaning and the
self. This contests the notion that self-disclosure inevitably leads to a more profound
comprehension of a person's "core" self, as meanings and identities can fluctuate based on the
context. Media technologies can provide alternative models of self and self-disclosure that
diverge from the traditional model proposed by Irwin Altman and Dalmas Taylor in Social
Penetration Theory.
As (Dionysis, 2014, pg. 189) cites, some themes and questions central to the pre-Web 2.0 era
have either evolved or lost their importance. A significant shift from anonymity to nonymity in
how internet users interact online can be observed. The disembodied communication that
typified early forms of online interpersonal communication, such as chat rooms, forums, or
multi-dungeon games, has been superseded as we transition to an era of nonymity (the antithesis
of anonymity) and "real names" policies implemented by major internet entities like Facebook,
LinkedIn, or Google.
New media technologies, such as social media platforms, online forums, and instant messaging
apps, have significantly changed the way people communicate, interact, and represent
themselves to others. This has enabled multi-layered self-presentation, allowing individuals to
simultaneously or selectively display different aspects of themselves based on the platform,

4. audience, or context. This challenges the linear progression of self-disclosure from public to
private, as suggested by the Social Penetration Theory. For instance, a person might reveal
different parts of their personality on various social media platforms.
Moreover, new media technologies blur the boundaries between public and private domains,
complicating the private/public dichotomy that is central to social penetration theory. People
may share intimate aspects of their lives on public platforms while also maintaining private
channels of communication with selected individuals or groups.
These technologies promote more fluid, context-dependent, and multi-layered self-presentations
and disclosure patterns, reflecting the intricacies of modern digital communication. Social media
platforms expose users to a wide range of opinions and information that may challenge their
existing attitudes and beliefs. The Social Judgment Theory can aid in understanding how
individuals process and evaluate this information in relation to their own latitudes of acceptance,
rejection, and noncommitment.
For instance, when individuals come across posts or comments on social media that either align
with or challenge their perspectives, they will assess this information based on their existing
attitudes. Content within their latitude of acceptance is more likely to be deemed persuasive,
while content in the latitude of rejection may reinforce their pre-existing views. In this context,
social judgment theory can offer valuable insights into how persuasive communication strategies
on social media platforms can influence attitude shifts and mold public opinion.
New media technologies, such as social media platforms, have become indispensable
instruments for initiating and sustaining relationships. Uncertainty reduction theory can be
applied to understand how individuals utilize these platforms to lessen uncertainty when forming
new connections or communicating with established contacts.
For example, people might employ passive strategies, like browsing someone's social media
profile, to collect information and decrease uncertainty before engaging in direct communication.
Active strategies, such as inquiring about the person from mutual friends or acquaintances, can
also be used. Furthermore, interactive strategies, including participating in online conversations,
commenting on posts, or exchanging direct messages, can help diminish uncertainty by enabling
individuals to ask questions and share information directly.
Additionally, self-disclosure on social media platforms can contribute to uncertainty reduction.
By posting personal information, thoughts, and experiences online, individuals can offer cues for
others to better comprehend their personality, interests, and values, ultimately lowering
uncertainty and nurturing relationships.
For instance, the Spiral of Silence theory, formulated by Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann, suggests
that individuals are more inclined to stay silent on a specific issue if they perceive their opinion
to be in the minority, due to fear of social isolation or backlash. Consequently, majority opinions
become increasingly dominant, while minority opinions become less visible, creating a spiral
effect that amplifies the perceived prevalence of the majority viewpoint. (Noelle-Neumann,
1984)

5. Although the Spiral of Silence theory was not explicitly developed to explain social media
dynamics, it can be applied to platforms like Twitter, which can also contribute to the spiral
effect. On Twitter, individuals can gauge the prevalence of certain opinions through metrics such
as retweets, likes, and trending topics. These indicators may lead people to believe that a specific
opinion is held by the majority, which can influence their decision to express or withhold their
own views.
Twitter users might be reluctant to share minority opinions due to fear of backlash or losing
followers as a result of social isolation. This apprehension can result in self-censorship, with
individuals remaining silent on controversial subjects or only sharing opinions that align with the
perceived majority view. Consequently, this can lead to the amplification of majority opinions.
As majority opinions receive more likes, retweets, and engagement on Twitter, they become
more visible, reinforcing the perception that they are dominant. In contrast, minority opinions are
less visible and may receive less engagement, making them appear even more marginalized.
Moreover, not only on social media but also in their daily lives, such as workplace conversations,
individuals are influenced by the majority opinions prevailing on Twitter.
Subsequent research on the theory also highlights that "while social media use may be linked to a
muting effect on discussions of political issues in some physical settings, for some, it is
associated with new opportunities for discussion."
“Twitter users were less willing to engage in a conversation in the workplace, especially
if they felt those following them on Twitter did not agree with their opinion on the
government’s surveillance program. A typical Twitter user, who uses the platform several
times per day, was 0.24 times less likely to be willing to join a conversation on the
Snowden-NSA story at work than other internet users. However, if they felt their Twitter
followers agreed with their opinion, then they were only 0.69 times less likely to be
willing to engage in a discussion at work. This relationship was in addition to the lower
likelihood that someone would speak out at work if they felt their coworkers did not share
their opinions.” (Hampton, K.N., Rainie, L., Lu, W., Dwyer, M., Shin, I., & Purcell, K.
2014, p26)
In conclusion,
We can identify several opinions that are generally agreed upon, such as:
1. Communication as a dynamic process: Throughout the answers, there is a common
emphasis on the active and transformative nature of communication, whether discussing
the role of communication in shaping the self or how new media technologies are
redefining self-disclosure.
2. The evolving concept of self: The self is portrayed as a complex and dynamic construct
across the answers, with various theories emphasizing the role of social interactions,
communication, and context in shaping one's identity.

6. 3. The importance of context: Many of the approaches highlight the significance of context
in shaping both the self and the nature of communication, whether discussing postmodern
views on the self or the impact of new media technologies.
We can identify several opinions that will continue to be debated like:
1. Assumptions about the self: Different theories and perspectives discussed make
assumptions about the self. For example, Social Penetration Theory presumes a relatively
stable, coherent self that can be progressively disclosed, while postmodern views
emphasize the fluidity and multiplicity of the self.
2. Blurred Boundaries: The studies also bring attention to various ways of understanding the
private/public dichotomy. Social Penetration Theory stresses a clear distinction between
the private and public self, while postmodernism and new media technologies blur these
boundaries.
3. Self-disclosure: The role and nature of self-disclosure vary across the answers, with
traditional theories like Social Penetration Theory focusing on linear progression and
increased intimacy. In contrast, discussions of new media technologies and postmodern
views of the self emphasize the complexities, fluidity, and context-dependence of self-
disclosure.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
 Altman, I., & Taylor, D. A. (1973). Social penetration: The development of interpersonal
relationships. Holt, Rinehart & Winston.
 Blumer, H. (1969). Symbolic Interactionism, University of California Press,
BerkeleyPanos.
 Gubrium, Jaber F., and James A. Holstein. 1994. “Grounding the Postmodern Self.” The
Sociological Quarterly.
 Hampton, K.N., Rainie, L., Lu, W., Dwyer, M., Shin, I., & Purcell, K. (2014)
“Social Media and the ‘Spiral of Silence.’ Pew Research Center, Washington, DC.
 Judith A. Sanders., Richard L. Wiseman (1993). Intercultural Communication Studies III
 Noelle-Neumann, Elisabeth. 1984. The Spiral of Silence: Public Opinion, Our Social
Skin. University of Chicago Press.
 Panos, Dionysis. 2014. “‘I’ on the Web: Social Penetration Theory Revisited.”
Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences.