The Role of Technology in the Formation of New Social Identities and Politics - Literature review Example

Tittle: The role of technology in formation of new social identities and politics Name Institution Research Topic: The role of technology in formation of new social identities and politics The focus of research in social psychology is the way communities are formed, attract new individuals and develop with particular traits over time (Patton, 2010). The theory of social identity developed by Jenkins (2004) explains that there is a relative anonymity of technology that encourages self-expression. This aspect of anonymity also tends to facilitate the development of relationship founded on the shared values and beliefs (Patton, 2010). According to Goffman (1997) self-expression when it comes to online social platforms promotes identity experimentation and development. Since the social identities are fluid, situational dependent and are the continuous subject of negotiation within the individuals, in this case technology is considered a psychological challenge that explains the their (social identities) dynamics. Considering the situation of social identity and politics in the 19th century, the mechanisms in which individuals belonging to a particular community would have limited growth since the information was hardly collaborate (Goffman, 1997). However in the 20th century, mechanisms of social movements are defined by individual’s extensive ability in finding and collaborating with others at different parts of the world within the online environment. Research by Tyler (2002) shows that internet social platform has led to increase in the understanding of direct (face-to-face) communication. This has brought a significant focus on the inherent assumptions and biases which exist in the traditional system of communication. Assumptions that facilitate direct (face to face) interactions, for instance physical presence, which are assumed to be very essential for communication and relation, does not exist in the current social environment. The communication theory concludes these aspects as limitations especially when addressing a large group of individuals. Even with these limitations, information movement in the contemporary world continue to succeed and grow. According to Jenkins (2004, pg. 76), the evolution of technology (online communities in this case) challenges the current perception on how social and political dynamics plays a role in definition of individual relationship, communication and social identities formation. Most of the research supports the ideological perspective that the relative anonymity of technology promotes self-expression and facilitates interactions outside of what is often considered socially mediated interaction (Wellman, 2000). Aspects of technology which are pertinent to social identity formation Social Identity Theory in this context focuses on the nature of interaction on the social networks platform and the psychological development of social identities by conceptualizing self-presentation both in private and public domain. Jenkins (2004) from his study states that the evolution of technology has facilitated the effectiveness of the online social networks which eventually constitutes to a definable social group formation. The theory of social identity This is a highly influential theory of inter group relations which defines how individuals thinks of themselves and others in the same context (Wellman, 2000). According to Tajfel (1981, p.71) human interaction often exists within a spectrum that range from purely interpersonal to purely intergroup. To be purely interpersonal means an individual interact with others with low level of awareness of social categories. To be intergroup mean people interact entirely as agents of the group they belong where individual qualities are overwhelmed by salience of one’s group memberships. Social identity and the Internet Jenkins (2004) stated that all human identities are social identities and are concerned with how one particular group identify their similarities or differences from the known groups. From the Social Identity Theory, social identity has always been an on-going interplay between one particular group’s identity and how others identify that group (Tajfel, 1981, p. 255). Since the similarities attracts an individual to a particular group, this therefore enables an individual to recognize the differences in regard to the change of environment. Jenkins (2000, p. 8) considers this as a comparative process which is referred to as ‘internal and external instants of dialectic identification’ in the Social Identity Theory. Social identity forms an integral part of individual’s self-concept which is defined by the level of knowledge he/she has in that particular social group. Values and emotions are very significant to this attachment as well. Multiple social identities come from when a person belongs to different social groups thus exhibiting multiple social identities. Many individuals have attained these multiple identities through embrace of technology (Korte, 2007, p. 54). Social groups normally exist at different levels, that is, cultural, institutional, industrial and professional and the individuals’ social identities are enabled through interaction mostly in the social network platform. For instance, a doctor of philosophy can define his/her identity as teacher, friend or administrator depending on the social context. Considering this example, technology (use of internet-based communications like social networks) gives a wide view of social context where individuals can interact. The use of such technologies has facilitated the development and recognition of a person during self-identification and presentation. Technology plays an important in creating a perception of safe environment to the individuals thus making them to explore their values and beliefs within the same environment. Technology therefore allows users to experiment multiple virtual identities. Overtime, technology continues to expand opportunities for social identity through such activities like online games, online chat, 3D online virtual worlds as well as social networks. Jenkins (2004, p.70) stated that the experience with internet enables an individual to explore more identities more than if they could have explored by use of traditional methods of interaction. The role of technology is identified at different stages in life. In adolescence where there is normally uncertainty of identity and the sentiment of self dominates individual’s development and how they feel about themselves. Since identity is a process of ‘becoming’, the experience after creation becomes self-exploration (Valkenburg and Peter, 2005). A survey by Velkenburg et al (2005) of the 600 adolescents 85% showed that chat and online messaging was used on a regular basis. 50% of the individuals that were found using internet on a regular basis showed an ambition of self-experimental. The experimental process entailed presentation of self-beauty as well as real life acquaintances. Majority of those who were surveyed (45%) presented themselves as older. According to Valkenburg et al (2005), introverts appeared to be more interested in identity experimentation unlike extraverts who are less interested. The two groups explore social communication using the advanced platform of technology. Technology in this case acts as an element of social compensation. The same study found that teenagers use the social medial more often and the young adolescence often uses the internet to communicate with the strangers. With the ideological perspective of Internal and external dialectic, it is not enough to state social identity from Velkenburg study. However, it is important to receive and recognize technology in order to make self-presentation valid. Group formation Being identified as a member of a particular group is based on the extent to which individuals of that particular group promotes their social identity (Tyler 2002). The theory of social identity suggests that must closely interact in the same category of social issue. Technology plays an important role in creating this bond within the members of the same identity. For example, football sites in the internet often create forums of discussions and to be a member of that particular identity then one ought to be a football fan. Social identification Korte (2007) described how people describe themselves on the context of what they do and the institutions they are attached. However, then new modes of interaction have been developed by the changing nature of information technology which has shadowed the boundaries of institutions and on the other hand stretching social practices with length and time (Walther, 2007). Indeed, exposure to advanced technology puts pressure to individuals especially when different knowledge forms are re-established as a sense of rationality and in protecting social identity. Technology has constructed a utility of identity in various ways and also explaining organizational phenomenon (Whatten, 2002, p. 132). Identity of construct created through embrace of technology is used to explain organizational process as well as behaviours of employees in the organization. For instance, motivation, monitoring of communication patterns and managing resistance in managerial practices describes theoretical accounts that are promoted by technology. Identity regulation Various researches do not focus on the role of technology in identity regulation (Donath, 1999). However, technology often introduces new conversational practices that ensure active regulation of identity. Remarkably, leaders in various organizations are increasingly developing interests towards ensuring compatibility of technology and identity in order to create a successful IT works. Sure identity Individuals find particular aspects of technology more relevant to their social identity. This only happens when the line of career or profession of an individual is well constructed in an embraced technology (Donath, 1999). Technology in this case produces a self-relevant meaning thus avoiding ambivalent identity (Jenkins, 2000). For example, a manger in the organization finds Group Forum Support System (GFSS) more relevant to the organization’s practices such as providing valuable structure on how to conduct meetings. in order to avoid uncertainty most leaders ensures that the culture in the organization is flexible in order to reduce the cases of contradictions. Johnson and Morgeson (2005) stated that social identities are not only cognitive construction. Emotional levels of individuals are also significant to their social identities. Emotions like joy, pride and self-esteem are essential to the construction of social identity. Most research and practice shows that technology creates a group of actors working within the context of individuals and thus they manage any frustrations that may result from higher expectations from the society (…..). Social presentation In traditional face-to-face setting, individuals would observe situations and act according to how they perceive (Valkenburge et al, 2005). However, the perceptions at times could be inaccurate and thus creating a paradox-more concern on reality with no perception availability, would mean he/she should put more attention on the appearance (Goffman, 1997). Though a study by Donath (1999) reveals that in virtual settings such use the use of online social networks, inaccuracy often occur since an interpretation of a phenomenon may not be presented by use of technology in this case. The role of technology in this case therefore is to provide opportunities and motives to the audience in order to understand the kind of identity exhibited by the performer. Walther (2007) describes this as a process of awareness creation that brings a literal meaning of Shakespeare’s assentation. Ideological perspective of Walther (2007) describes the same technology role (creation of awareness) in two different ways. Do social identities benefits from technology? According to Wellman (2000) the primary use of internet is communication and it may be speculated that it has positive social consequences to the users in everyday lives since it increase the quality of interpersonal communication. Groups with easy access normally feel better than others especially those who are limited to access. Internet plays a role of connection which is strongly supported by many social identities like families, communities and organizations. This brings happiness and engagement even when the members of respective identities are not close together. Wellman (2000) says that technology may weakens social ties because individuals may leave their homes and have less reasons to interact with family members. People can work easily from their homes by use of internet thus reducing a lot of movements involved in the work practice. Technology and individual identity Valkenburg et al (2005) states the importance of prioritizing human judgement over technology. However, he also looks at the technology as a ‘democratizing instrument’ which has the ability to empower individuals. According to Castells (2011) defining culture in terms of the tools individuals use is not something new. During the 19th century humans has interacted with one another through machines with technology speeding the movement of information. The identities of the individuals through technology are mediated by the physical bodies. Castells (2011) defined identity as hard work-it is normally an achievement of grown-ups. Technology (in this case internet) forces individuals to face squarely the hard work during identity formation. During the pre-information era, individuals could judge by their own and control the validity of information they need. One was able to offer immediate feedback to the one relaying the information. In this case the information becomes more essential than the author. Perhaps identity is bond to the people who have embraced technology and therefore a community with the same level of awareness on the use of internet is created. In this case technology acts a developer of global communities based on the groups who have embraced the use of internet. Technology and community identity Technology ensures that the information gets to people who will later build the communities among them (Castells, 2011)This is the outcome of the information revolution age-formation of groups within the sphere of internet. Focusing on the American ethnic communities, most of the lonely people build communities and families through the internet. Valkenburg et al (2005) stressed that when individuals grow older, they tend to focus majorly on the big question of ‘who we are?’ which is the fundamental aspect of identity. Technology has made people explore more about the future thus creating a vision in many of its users. For example, a study by Castells (2011) shows that there are a significant number of individuals who have met through internet and marry. This indicates that technology play an important role in encouraging individuals, at any stage in life, to have a vision. Goffman (1997) shared an idea that adults share their identities through internet groups with others. The potential outcome of community identity in the information technology era can be either positive or negative. Like during the formation of individual identity, technology also exposes individuals to global arena thus overcoming fundamentalisms of religion and ethnicity. The ideological perspective of Korte (2007) shows that technology can be used to expand the narrow-minded individuals. It is found also that individuals turn to internet for spiritual connections with others. Furlong states that it is okay to connect to the world through spiritual soul searching. Korte (2007) observed that when the world is more connected electronically, the level of emotional connection becomes less. A study by Tyler (2002) supports this by concluding that the technological society is actually the most disconnected society in the history since there is a decline of neighbourhood and work communities. This shows that the institutional bonds in the society have loosened in the contemporary world and people have no communal memories thus reducing community ties. These perspectives show that individual’s physical connections with others in the community have been stretched thin. Technology can maintain both the old and new ties by discovering who we are, who we relate to and the newfound identity. In this case technology creates communities of the same identity across cultures and nationalities thus transferring local knowledge to global community. Internet will also support the narrow-mindedness by integrating them to the formed identity. The role of creation of community ‘intimacy’ is displayed through this ideology. Technology and politics In the recent months, the political phenomenon was experienced in ‘Arab Spring’ which went across most of the Arab countries in Africa and Europe (Castells, 2011). The activities involved in all the citizens that participated seemed to be orchestrated by the advanced technology. According to many social researches, social media played a major role in the Arab revolutions. The Network Theory explains the relationship between political revolutions and the emergence of new technologies. Castells (2011) with other social theorists commonly agreed that the rise of technology especially during the industrial revolution created way for global political and military changes. A study by Markham (2010) showed that internet gained popularity in the 21st century and it enabled idea-sharing among different communities of the world. During these uprisings social media platforms contained, managed and dispersed the information to the groups of the same identities. This happened as per the interest of the controlling individuals who had created a common identity through the social media platforms. In this case technology through new media-specifically offered a needed combination of interaction/connectivity, anonymity and instantaneous information dissemination to the members of the same identities. This is a universal role of technology in politics as concluded by Patton (2010). Reference Castells, M. (2011). A network theory of power. International Journal of Communication 5, 76 –79. Donath, J. (1999). Identity and deception in the virtual community. In M. A. Smith & P. Kollock (Eds.), Communities in cyberspace, London, UK: Routledge. Goffman, E. (1997). Self-presentation. In C. Lemert & A. Branaman (Eds.), The Goffman Reader. Malden, MA: Blackwell Jenkins, R. (2000). Categorization: Identity, social process and epistemology. Current Sociology, 48(3), 7-25. Jenkins, R. (2004). Social Identity. New York, NY: Routledge. Korte, R. (2007). A review of social identity theory with implications for training and development Journal of European Industrial Training, 31(3), 165-179. Patton, L. D. (2010). Culture centers in higher education perspectives on identity, theory, and practice. Sterling, Va: Stylus.. Tajfel, H. (1981). Human groups and social categories: Studies in social psychology. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. Tyler, T. R. (2002). Is the Internet changing social life? It seems the more things change, the more they stay the same. Journal of Social Issues, 58(1), 190-203. Valkenburg, P. M., Schouten, A. P., & Peter, J. (2005). Adolescents’ identity experiments on the Internet. New Media & Society, 7(3), 373-405. Walther, J. B. (2007). Selective self-presentation in computer-mediated communication: Hyperpersonal dimensions of technology, language, and cognition. Computers in Human Behavior, 23(5), 2538-2557 Wellman, B. (2000). Social network analysis: Concepts, applications, and methods. In A. E. Kadzin (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Psychology,7, 346-355. Washington, DC: APA Read More