Social Information

Processing Theory

Presented by Becky Pateman

Definition Social Information Processing (SIP) Theory Is an interpersonal communication theory that suggests that online interpersonal relationship development might require more time to develop than traditional face-to-face relationships. Joseph Walther developed this theory in 1992. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_information_processing_theory

Social Information Processing

o SIP is gaining information from another individual to form a interpersonal impression of who they are.

o The mental image that a person defines impressions in the mind of another person .

Looking at the Theory

• SIP Theory is consistent with oSocial Penetration TheoryoUncertainty Reduction Theory

CMC (computer-mediated messages)

Looking at the Theory

Hyper-Personal: CMC relationships that they are more intimate than romances or friendships would be if partners were together.

Interpersonal

Impression Relationship

Information Formation Development

Sender/Receiver ModelSender (selective self-presentation)

o What they want to reveal about themselves.

Receiver (Over-attribution of similarity)

o Creates an idealized image of their partner.

Channel (communicating on your own time)

o Allows the users express themselves the way they want, when they want.

Feedback (self-selected prophecy)

o is the person’s expectation of other, to evoke a response from them that confirms what he or she anticipated.

DifferencesOnline communication

o CMC users form impressions by the content of the message

o The response time of the message o Delayed response o Prompt response o Relationship Stageo Tone the sender wants to

convey

Face-to-Face o Facial Expressions o Tone of Voiceo Body position o Interpersonal distanceo Gestures o Touch

Example The Big Bang Theory–Season 2, Episode 13

• http://youtu.be/k0xgjUhEG3U

The Big Bang Theory 1st Stage

The Big Bang Theory 2nd Stage

CMC Users o Discussion sites

o Support groups

o Dating siteso Chat rooms

oCMC users join online discussion and chat rooms have a higher need for affiliations than typical person whose relationship is developed.

Advantages • Convince of sending the message in

your own time.• The Intimacy of the relationship

would be the same if they meet face-to-face.

Disadvantages o People become more self-absorbed

and less inhibited o CMC relationship will be

weaker/fragile (when establishing the relationship)

o Logging off oTerminating the relationship

o Impersonalo Task-oriented

The ‘Information Superhighway’ is clearly not just a road for moving data from one place to another, but a roadside where people pass each other, occasionally meet, and decide to travel together. You can’t see very much of other driver’s at first, unless you do the travel together. There are highway bandits, to be sure, who are not shy as they appear to be – one must drive defensively-and there are conflicts and disagreements online as there are off-road too.

While early research suggested that numerous interpersonal collisions were impending, recent research finds that interpersonal information moves at slower speeds, and in doing so, the roadway is not as dangerous as once thought. IT scan offer a relational joyride. 25

Conclusion The Theory proves that there is no difference on the long term effect of the relationship, where the two individuals meet:• Online • Face-to-Face

That it would not have an effect of the Intimacy of the relationship.

Conclusion • The Theory proves that the an online

relationships will take longer with the communication channels compared to an face-to-face communication channel

• The Theory shows that the CMC Users are more than likely to be Single rather than in a current relationship

References Definition of topic http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_information_processing_theory sighted on the 11/10/2011

Investigation of topic http://www.afirstlook.com/edition_7/theory_resources/Social_Information_Processing_Theory sighted on 11/10/2011

Image on S.4 http://www.techfollow.net/google-is-re-defining-the-way-we-do-online-communication-through-google-apps/ sighted on the 15/10/2011.

Image on S.8http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/cheekd/IDBgmZHBUoW9PrXyhjQRQDM4UoiM1DeotdwmPu8MBghg6H4i6uONyQs6aFWs/wpid-1284925074_fv-online-dati.jpg sighted on the 15/10/2011.

Image on S.8http://thebigbangtheoryepisodes.blogspot.com/2010/05/friendship-algorithm.html sighted on the 16/10/2011