Understanding The Self Lesson 9 PDF

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Technological University of the PhilippinesCOLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTSUnderstanding the SelfLesson Pack (9)Unpacking t he S elf: The Digital SelfLearning Objectives: At the end of the lesson, students will be able to: - Explore the different aspects of self and identity. - Demonstrate critical, reflecti...

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Technological University of the Philippines COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS

Understanding the Self Lesson Pack (9)

Unpa Unpacking cking the Self: The Digital Self Learning Objectives: At the end of the lesson, students will be able to: • Explore the different aspects of self and identity. • Demonstrate critical, reflective thought in integrating the various aspects of self and identity. • Identify the different forces and institutions that impact the development of various aspects of self and identity. • Examine one’s self against the different aspects of self-discussed in class “There will be time, there will be time, to prepare a face to meet the faces that you meet.” (T.S. Eliot The Lovesong of J. Alfred Prufrock) The feeling of an inner self and an outer self-generated the impulse to reveal oneself to others in a believe manner. University professor and author Lionel Trilling’s (1997) analysis of literature about the “self” and its relationship with others distinguished sincerity and authenticity. Sincerity refers to the exposure in public of what one feels privately. On the other hand, an authentic person is one who takes action based on some internal standard and takes responsibility for this freely chosen action. The social world of a western-influenced society, like the Philippines, typically consists of three domains: • • •

Family, School, and Neighborhood.

People in these social domains exert different impacts on the formation of self, depending on the stage of development of the child. Research has shown that parents have a dominant influence on their children’s sense of self prior to adolescence. As a child grows older, the influence of peers increases (Rosenberg, 1986).

The emergence of the Internet, however, adds a fourth domain – the online life – to the social world. The online life has definitely altered the dynamics of self – identity, especially for adolescence.

I, Me, Myself, and my user ID online identity The self that is that constructed online is generally called the digital self. Analyses of the experiences of online users (especially teenagers) have shown that the characteristics of the digital self are (Zhao, 2005): -

Oriented inward; Narrative in nature;

- Retractable; and - Multipliable.

The digital self is oriented inward toward the world of thoughts and feelings because others cannot see the online user’s overt attributes. It is narrative in nature because online users will only come to know the person primarily through what that person tells them. It is retractable because others are unable to link the online self-claims to the offline identities. Finally, it is multipliable because people can interact with one another in different domains of the world at relatively the same time. People are able to present themselves online in the manner that they want to. This process is called self-presentation. Research suggests that self-presentation tends to be superficial. A study found that students and nonstudents between 18 – 39 years old were more likely to disclose their interests online rather than their beliefs and feelings (Attrill & Jalil, 2011). This constrains the feedback that one receives, and thus, influences the self. The basic kinds of people you interact with online are: 1. People you do not know at all; 2. People you know both online and offline; and 3. People you know only online. In the online social domain, it is entirely acceptable to contact and to be contacted by complete strangers. For example, you need not be introduced to talk to a stranger in a chat room, or to read and comment on a blog, an FB post, or a tweet of someone you are not personally acquainted with. However, many of the people you interacted with in the digital world are those you know both online and offline although your familiarity with these people vary considerably. Finally, there are persons you interact with only online. Through frequent interactions you get to know one another without meeting in person. Regardless of how much you have known them online, their offline identity largely remains unrevealed or unverified. People you have become familiar with only online are strangers and acquaintances at the same time. They are strangers because you have seen them in person; you do not know what they really look like; and probably you will not even recognize them when you meet face to face. Through online communication,

however you have come to know a lot about them, including the personal secrets they reveal to you, making you feel a certain level of intimate acquaintance with them.

Selective Self – Presentation and Impression Management Self – presentation behavior is any behavior intended to create, modify, or maintain an impression of ourselves in the minds of others. Whenever we are us in a particular way, we are engaging in self – presentation. Why do people engage in self – presentation? Self – presentation: • • •

Helps facilitate social interaction; Enables individuals to attain material and social rewards; and Helps people privately construct desired identities. Generally, social media platforms are used for:

• • • •

Social browsing; Social searching; Communication; and Impression management.

Impression management is the attempt to control or influence any other people’s perceptions. This could be their perception of a certain person (including you), a material possession, or an event. There are two main motives of attempting to manage the impressions of others: • •

Instrumental. This motive is to basically gain rewards and increase one’s self – esteem. Expressive. This motivation is about attempting to be in control of one’s personal behavior and identity. It is a response to moral norms, expectations, or restrictions, seeking to show others that he or she, as a person, is different.

Impression – management Strategies -

Self – Promotion Ingratiation

- Exemplification - Intimidation

- Supplication

Self – promotion is a proactive process in which a person actively says things or takes action to show his or her competence to an audience (Rosenfeld et al., 1995, p.51). Self – promotion often increases whenever there is an opportunity to openly impress someone of higher

status (Giacalone & Rosenfeld, 1986). Ingratiation is the process by which someone tries to win the approval or acceptance of another. For example, if a woman wants to get her mother – in – law to like her, she may “kiss up” to her by giving her compliments or gifts. She may also try to make herself appear more similar values and interests. Exemplification involves a strategic self – sacrifice so that observers may recognize the dedication. An exemplifier often wants other people to know how hard he / she has been working because of the need to advertise his/her behavior (Rosenfeld et al., 1995). Intimidation is a strategy that involves showing off authority, power, or the potential to punish in order to be seen by observers as someone who could be or is dangerous. This is designed to increase the credibility of one’s threats and in turn enhance the probability that the target will comply with the demands for agreement (Tedeschi & Riess, 1981, p.11). Supplication is an approach where the individual exploits his/her weaknesses or shortcomings to receive help or benefits.

Impact of online interactions on self Growing up digital: How the Internet affects teen identity When British 14 – year – old Hannah Smith turned to popular social networking site Ask.fm in July 2013, she wanted reassurance. Stressed out from studying for exams and anxious about the return of eczema that made her feel ugly, smith opened up about her feelings on the site, which allows users to pose questions others can respond to anonymously. The response came in rapid succession. Anonymous posters urged Smith to cut herself and drink bleach. One even said, “Do us all a favour n kill ur self.” When Smith did just that a month later, her father blamed the anonymity of Ask.fm’s commenters for his daughter’s death made international headlines about the effects of cyberbullying. What detectives found was arguably much more tragic – that Smith sent the hateful messages to herself, hoping her friends would rally in her defense. While cases like Smith’s are rare, Smith was doing what most teenagers do: seeking identity validation from friends and strangers, often via social media. As a new generation comes of ages online, the Internet could be affecting how they form their identity. Catherine Steiner – Adair, a psychologist and author of “The Big Disconnect: Protecting Childhood and Family Relationship in the Digital Age,” says the kind of outside affirmation Smith sought online is a vital part of how teens form identity.

“The need for validation and confirmation that you’re OK is so huge,” Steiner – Adair said. “Parents often say, ‘How could you go on a site where people can anonymously respond to whatever your question is: Am I cute? Am I fat?’ But we’re forgetting what it means to be teenager when we say things like that.” According to market research data released this year from GFK, a German market research institute, the amount of time teens spend online has grown 37 percent since 2012, to about four hours a day. In a 2010 survey from the Girl Scout Research Institute, 74 percent of girls said they felt their peers used social media to “make themselves look cooler than they are,” and 41 percent said that also describes them. A 2010 study from York University found that people with lower self – esteem spent more time online and posted more “self - promotional” content to sites like Facebook. Steiner – Adair says that while technology changed how teens seek and get feedback about identity, teen behavior is much the same. “Kids are always looking at each other, comparing themselves to each other. The same thing that’s going on in the halls is going on online,” Steiner – Adair said. “The differences for teenagers today is that there’s an endless supply of people to whom they can compare themselves.”

In 1998, one of the first studies of internet use found that Internet use in general significantly affected social relationships and participation in offline community life (Kraut et., al 1998). The study indicated that the more time spent online caused a decline in communicating with family members. A 2013 data also indicate that the use of social networking sites (SNS) may possibly undermine subjective perception of well – being and life satisfaction. One of the reasons time spent on SNS may be associated with depressive symptoms is the fact that computer – mediated communication may lead to the altered (and often wrong) impression of the physical and personality traits of the other users. This may lead to incorrect conclusions regarding physical appearance, educational level, intelligence, moral integrity, as well as many other characteristic of online friends (Chou, 2012). However, it should be stressed that so far there is still no conclusive evidence that the use of SNS causes depression or even a single symptom of depression. In fact, there is an indication that online communication with friends and family (today mostly done on SNS) is actually associated with a decline in depression (Bessiere et al., 2010). In a more specific study, recent research presented conflicting results regarding the potential influence of Facebook and any other SNS on self – esteem. One possible indication of the negative relationship between self – esteem. One possible indication of the negative relationship between self-esteem and the use of Facebook is that all social networking platforms (where self – presentation is the principal user activity) cause or at least promote narcissistic behavior (Mehdizadeh, 2010). However, another study suggested that Facebook use may actually

enhance self – esteem. This study supported the interpersonal communication theory called the hyperpersonal model. This theory suggested that the advantage of computer – mediated communication is that a person can edit his or her self – presentation, which in turn positively impacts impressions on the self; thus, greater intimacy is possible (Gonzales & Hancock, 2011). Social networking was also found to be addictive. The addictive nature of SNS is supported primarily by the mental preoccupation of their social functioning such as family and offline friends. In addition, some chronic users who have suddenly stopped online social networking (i.e., lack of Internet connection) have been observed to display signs and symptoms that at least partially resemble the ones seen during drug/alcohol/nicotine abstinence syndrome (La Barbera et al., 2009). Examples of these symptoms are: -

Anxiety Restlessness Irritability

- Insomnia - Depression - Headaches - Social Isolation - Poor concentration

What makes us so addicted? Communication occurs during interaction, and our need to be connected and interact with others is universal and unavoidable. Communication is necessary in our unending search for sense and meaning to our world. “One cannot not communicate” (Watzlawick & the Palo Alto School, 1967). The social world is socially constructed trough interactions between people: roles, rules, categorizations, stereotypes, and so on. Social networks have the power to amplify this human nature. They have broken the barriers of distance and time; of presence and visibility. They expand the possibilities of sharing and playing identities. They fulfill the most deeply felt human need of finding a psychological distinctiveness and self – definition in a social context. Social validation is an important part of being human. Hence, a Facebook “Like” or a Twitter “Favorite” is a social signal that makes us feel good and makes us want to crave for more.

Boundaries of the self online: Private vs. Public; Personal/Individual vs. Social Identity Online How are identities constructed in the age of the Internet? Is the distinction between “private identity” and “public identity” relevant, especially for this generation? An important characteristic of the Internet age is the phenomenon of “public identity.” It can be said that for millennials and for the future generation, the notion of “privacy” as an individual would probably be lost. After all, these are young people who have been subjected to security measures in various forms and in numerous settings (Schools, airports, malls). In Area

Is under Constant Surveillance,” are posted. Even parents and the youth use “webcams” to capture everyday behaviors. Millennials have been socialized to do things in groups. Private vs. Public Self Social scientists have given very different definitions of the concept of “private” and “public.” Understanding the difference between these concepts will help in your study of the “self” (Baumeister, 2012): • •

Private. The prevalent definition among social psychologists is “private” refers to mental events in a person that are inherently unobservable by others. Public. What social psychologists consider as “public” are behaviors that are open to the observations of other people.

Summary of the various of the terms “PRIVATE” and “PUBLIC” PRIVATE

PUBLIC

Phenomenological Experience

Observable behavior

Acting only for self

Acting as agent for others

Actor controls access to information regarding self

Information about self not controlled by actor

Acting in the interest of a limited number of people

Acting in the interest of the community

Social profiles are a description of individuals’ social characteristics that identify them on social media sites, such as LinkedIn and Facebook. When it comes to online personal or business branding, the creation of social media profiles is absolutely essential. Before the advent of the Internet, only companies had to worry about their brands. Now individuals do as well, especially individuals who are open to or actively seeking new job opportunities. Possible advantages of making your online profile public: • • • •

It facilitates open communication that could lead to better and faster information discovery and delivery. It allows open discussion on ideas and the posting of news, asking of questions, and sharing of links. It provides an opportunity to widen business contacts. It targets a wide audience, making it a useful and effective tool to increase your network of friends.

• •

If you are an entrepreneur, it improves business reputation and client base with minimal use of advertising. It helps expand market research, implement marketing campaigns, deliver communications, and direct interested people to specific websites.

Possible risks: • • •

It is opens up the possibility for hackers to commit fraud and launch spam and virus attacks. It increases the risks of people falling prey to online scams that seem genuine, resulting in data or identity theft. It potentially results in negative comments and bashing.

Some advantages of making your online profile private: • •

You have control over viewers. You only connect with those you want to communicate with. Your online profile is protected from scammers and bashers.

Disadvantages of a private profile: • • • •

Your network is very limited, thus, you close your doors to opportunities that social networking bring. Your engagement is very low. You do not get to meet interesting people with whom you can exchange ideas or learn from. If you are an entrepreneur, a private profile will not help grow your business.

Individual vs. Social Identity How do you are the same person you were as a child? Is it because you remember yourself growing within the same body you have now? Or is it because you perceive that you have the same mind? What criteria can be used to confirm you are, in fact, a “person?” Personal (individual) Identity is the concept you develop about yourself that evolves over the course of your life This may include aspects of your life that you have no control over, such as where you grew up or the color of your skin, as well as choices you make in life, such as how you spend your time and what you believe in. Characteristics of personal identity: • •

The emphasis is on the individual It is created through differences in personal characteristics when comparing the self with others.

Social psychologists Henri Tajfel and John Turner (1979) theorized that social identity is a person’s sense of who he/she is based on group membership(s). They asserted that the groups (e.g., social class, family, basketball team, and so on), to which people belonged to were an important source of pride and self – esteem. Characteristics of social identity: • •

The emphasis is on what the person has is common with the members of his or her group It is created based on similarities with others.

Gender and sexuality online Does the Internet influence stereotyping? The Internet plays an essential role in shaping our conception of the world, our opinions, and our values. Children and young people who are in the process of forming their opinions and attitudes about norms and acceptable behavior, and also about sexuality are most susceptible to the Internet’s influence. The attitudes, conduct, and roles toward women, men, and the LGBTQ+ community are being strongly influenced by Internet content. By creating a certain type of message, internet users can manipulate people’s attitudes and opinions. Gender stereotypes existing in the offline environment (which are the root of inequality between men, women, and the LGBTQ+, and the origin of gender violence) are also present in the online world. A stereotype is “…a fixed, overgeneralized belief about a particular group or class of people” (Cardwell, 2014). The use of stereotypes is a manner in which people simpl...