CHAPTER 3

Interpersonal Communication and the Self

 Section 1

Interplay COMMUNICATION AND

THE SELF-CONCEPT
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
How does high or low self-esteem affect 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
Social comparison: Evaluating ourselves in terms
of how we compare with others
Reference groups: People against whom we
evaluate our own characteristics
Characteristics of the Self-Concept

The self-concept is subjective

We inflate and/or underestimate our
self-perception
Why?
Obsolete information
Distorted feedback
The myth of perfection
Social expectations
Characteristics of the Self-Concept

A healthy self-concept is flexible

The self-concept resists change
Cognitive conservatism: Seeking
information that conforms to an
existing self-concept
The Self-Fulfilling Prophecy and Communication

Self-fulfilling prophecy: When a person’s expectations of an event and his or her

behavior based on those expectations make the outcome more likely to occur than would
otherwise have been the case.
Four stages:
Holding expectation (for yourself or for others)
Behaving in accordance with that expectation
The expectation coming to pass
Reinforcing the original expectation
Types of Self-Fulfilling Prophecies

Self-imposed prophecies
Your own expectations influence your
behavior
Other-imposed prophecies
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
 Section 2

Interplay PRESENTING
THE SELF
Public and Private Selves

Perceived self: The person you believe your-

self 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 Impression Management

We strive to construct multiple identities

Impression management is collaborative
We improvise scenes where our
character reacts with others
Impression management can be deliberate or
unconscious
Face-to-Face Impression Management

Manner
Words
Nonverbal actions
Appearance
Personal items people use to shape an image
Setting
Physical items we use to influence how others view us
Impression Management in Social Media

The Internet offers an opportunity for people to present themselves in a variety of ways
In mediated identity management, how do the factors of manner, appearance, and setting
change?
How do these changes make it easier or more difficult to manage identity?
Impression Management and Honesty

People sometimes misrepresent themselves to gain

the trust of others
Deception in cyberspace is common
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

Interplay DISCLOSING
THE SELF
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
Types of information revealed:
Clichés—ritualized, stock responses Opinions
Facts Feelings
Social Penetration Model
Johari Window Model
Benefits and Risks of Self-Disclosure

Benefits:
Catharsis
Self-clarification
Self-validation
Reciprocity
Impression formation
Relationship maintenance and enhancement
Moral obligation
Benefits and 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

Is the other person important to you?

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
Seeks to get desired response from other person
The Ethics of Evasion

Provides a way to manage difficult situations

Times when honesty is the right approach, even when painful
Consider:
Are the effects of a lie worth the deception?
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?