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Computer-mediated communication and social identity

Spears, R. Lea, M. & Postmes, T. (2007). CMC and social identity. In A. Joinson, K. McKenna, T. Postmes, & U Reips (Eds.) Oxford handbook of Internet psychology. Oxford: Oxford University Press. (pp. 253-272).

Last updated on January 19, 2018 by Martin Lea

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The reader is asked to tolerate a degree of egocentrism if this chapter appears to be written from an “ingroup” point of view, particularly with an emphasis on our own theoretical slant, and to some extent research. This is after all meant to be a general overview chapter on social identity and CMC. Our excuse is that this is difficult to avoid to some extent. When we started working in this area in the mid-80s there was very little research on the role of social identities in CMC, and what there was seemed to present CMC as an ideal medium for escaping from the restrictions of social categories and identities that bind us to them (e.g., Kiesler at al., 1984). Although these early approaches to CMC did not deny that social constraints could sometimes be good, when they were presented in a more positive light (by providing social standards) once again CMC was construed as subverting them. In both cases the social identity seemed to be “excommunicated” from the realm of CMC.

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The other dominant image of cyberspace in the early approaches was a new realm of liberation where we could (re)invent the self and escape the strictures and stigma of embodiment and social categories (e.g., Haraway, 1990; Turkle, 1995). Here social identities could be seen as part of the potential paint-box of how we present ourselves, but potentially something as much to be escaped, manipulated or dissimulated rather than truly represented. Even those who have advocated CMC as a medium to present the true and authentic self (Bargh & McKenna, 2002) by implications see social identities as a barrier, something that is blinding others to being appreciated as unique individuals in terms of authentic self. In all these accounts the implication has been that social reality, and social categories and identities, were something that could best be transcended through CMC and cyberspace. We are not claiming this can never occur; the point is rather that this does not provide a fertile basis for viewing social identity as central to CMC.

It was against this backdrop that we tried to argue that, paradoxically perhaps, social identities could find especial expression in CMC, and moreover, that this might not necessarily always be a bad thing. For this reason we hope the reader will indulge a little egocentrism in structuring this overview around our own approach, although empirical work in this area has multiplied well beyond our own research network. There are other approaches that also point in to the influence of social identities in CMC, many from outside of social psychology, and we also give these credit. However we start with an elaboration of the social identity model of deindividuation effects (SIDE for short) because this provides an early explanation of which social identities can become even more powerful and consequential in media such as CMC and the Internet.

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About the Book

Oxford Handbook of Internet Psychology (Oxford Handbooks)
Publisher: Oxford University Press - Edition no. 1 (04/25/2009) - Paperback: 520 pages

The Oxford Handbook of Internet Psychology brings together many of the leading researchers in what can be termed ‘Internet Psychology’. In addition to well-studied areas of investigation, such as social identity theory, computer-mediated communication and virtual communities, the volume also includes chapters on topics as diverse as deception and misrepresentation, attitude change and persuasion online, Internet addiction, online relationships, privacy and trust, health and leisure use of the Internet, and the nature of interactivity.

With over 30 chapters written by experts in the field, the range and depth of coverage is unequalled, and serves to define this emerging area of research. Uniquely, this content is supported by an entire section covering the use of the Internet as a research tool, including qualitative and quantitative methods, online survey design, personality testing, ethics, and technological and design issues.

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Filed Under: Books, Computer-Mediated Communication Theory, Contributed chapters, Social Identity Model of Deindividuation Effects (SIDE)


Further Reading

  • Flaming in computer-mediated communication: Observations, explanations, implications
  • Social Psychology of the Internet
  • Facing the future: Emotion communication and the presence of others in video communications
  • Constructing the networked organization: Content and context in the development of electronic communications.
  • How social is Internet communication? A reappraisal of bandwidth and anonymity effects

Martin Lea

About Martin Lea

I'm a Social Psychologist who's interested in understanding how people communicate, relate and behave on the Internet, social networks, and the Web. I do independent research, write and publish, and have contributed to over 30 books on computer-mediated communication and Internet relationships. My latest project Adoption Social Media Info explores how social media networking is reshaping the lives of adoptive families. I also provide training and coaching for academics, authors, and practitioners to help them build great professional websites that showcase their projects, grow their business, and create lasting impact from their work.

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More Journal Articles

SIDE-VIEW: A social identity account of computer-supported collaborative learning

Paralanguage and social perception in computer-mediated communication

Social processes and group decision making: Anonymity in group decision support systems

Deindividuation and group polarization in computer-mediated communication

Knowing me, knowing you: Anonymity effects on social identity processes within groups

Intergroup differentiation in computer-mediated communication: Effects of depersonalization

Computer-mediated communication as a channel for social resistance: The strategic side of SIDE

Panacea or panopticon? The hidden power in computer-mediated communication

Breaching or building social barriers? SIDE effects of computer-mediated communication

Visibility and anonymity effects on attraction and group cohesiveness

Rationalist assumptions in cross-media comparisons of computer-mediated communication

Investigating personal constructs of emotions

Social presence in distributed group environments: The role of social identity

SIDE-VIEW: An interactive web environment to support group collaborative learning

SIDE-VIEW: Evaluation of a prototype system to develop team players and improve productivity in Internet collaborative learning groups

The formation of group norms in computer-mediated communication

When are net effects gross products? The power of influence and the influence of power in computer-mediated communication

Computer-mediated communication, deindividuation, and group decision-making

Constructing the networked organization: Content and context in the development of electronic communications.

More Contributed Chapters

Social Psychology of the Internet

Love at first byte: Building personal relationships over computer networks

Facing the future: Emotion communication and the presence of others in video communications

Flaming in computer-mediated communication: Observations, explanations, implications

Social influence and the influence of the social in computer-mediated communication

Power and gender in computer-mediated communication: A SIDE look

Engaging in email discussion: conversational context and social identity

Social psychological theories of computer-mediated communication: Social pain or social gain?

Cohesion in Online Groups

Social processes in electronic teamwork: The central issue of identity.

How social is Internet communication? A reappraisal of bandwidth and anonymity effects

A SIDE view of social influence

Social identity, group norms, and deindividuation: Lessons from computer-mediated communication for social influence in the group

Representations of the group and group processes in CSCW research: A case of premature closure?

Breakdown of personal relationships and the threat to personal identity

Video-linking emotions

The In-SIDE story: Social psychological processes affecting on-line groups

On SIDE: Purview, problems, prospects

Edited Book: “SIDE issues centre stage: Recent developments in the study of de-individuation in groups”

Edited book: Contexts of Computer-Mediated Communication – Martin Lea

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