The Development of Interpersonal Relationship among the Users of Mobile Communication Technology - Annotated Bibliography Example

Outline S.No. Item Page no 1 Abstract 3 2 Introduction 4 3 Literature review 5 4 Emotional aspects of interpersonal relationships through text messages 8 4a Love 8 4b Trust 9 4c Intimacy 10 5 Conclusion 10 6 Annotated Bibliography 11 1. ABSTRACT In the technology era, everything related to human beings have evolved into electronic form. Traveling has become a part of life and with the advancement in migration facilities and reduction of travel expenses, relationships have grown beyond the vicinity. This situation demands a faster and effective mode of communication ands MCT or Mobile Communication Technology has become the answer to this question. Today, much of interpersonal relationships are maintained over the MCT and often a few of them are made and maintained over them as well. Friendship, romantic relationships or even time pass relationships are born and brought up over the internet or mobile phones. These relationships are to be analyzed on the basis of their technological ground and emotional ground. The following pages are an attempt to reveal the very same aspect of the influence of text messaging over interpersonal relationships. The research method will be secondary literature analysis. Factors such as communication effectiveness in such relationships, personal factors such as intimacy, trust and maintenance of such relationships will be discussed as well. 2. INTRODUCTION The growth of interpersonal communication with the growth of text messaging has been a very noticeable fact in the recent times. “These technologies have been adopted by teens relatively quickly because IMing and text messaging are more convenient, less expensive (especially in some countries), and faster than traditional technologies. The ability to time-shift and talk at non-traditional times are added incentives.” (Grinter & Eldridge, 2001; Kasesniemi & Rautianinen, 2002; Lenhart, Madden, & Hitlin, 2005; Lenhart, Rainie, & Lewis, 2001; Ling & Yttri, 2002). It is important to notice that more SMS, IM, chat and e-mail go over various networks than the usual communication over phone and cellular phones. Studies reveal that that major part of these text messages tends to initiate, enhance and maintain interpersonal relationships. The aim of this study is to answer a few questions that arise related to this topic. 1) To what extend does text messaging influence interpersonal relationships? 2) Are the online relationships strong and effective as the offline relationships? 3) What extend of sentiments is associated with the ‘technology relationships’? The method of study intended to answer these questions will be secondary literature analysis and with the help of various websites that provide journals related to the topic. Also, google.com and wikipedia.com have been relied upon to get the data required. 3. LITERATURE REVIEW Freedom provided by technology has always been a debate right from the day it has become accessible to the public easily. Before anything about the online relationships can be discussed, it is very important to understand that there is nothing facilitating interpersonal relationship more than text messages. “Research demonstrates that text messages are being used primarily to commence, advance, maintain or otherwise impact interpersonal relationships. The present study probes relational benefits of text messaging within familial and fraternal contexts. Specifically, the study seeks to answer the research question: How does text messaging impact feelings of “connectedness” (IJsselsteijn, van Baren & van Lanen, 2003, p. 928) within “strong-tie”, dyadic relationships? Findings from nineteen respondent interviews show that texting becomes a channel through which dialectical tensions in relationships are played out.” But wikipedia.com introduces a term called ‘sexting’ which is a portmanteau word for sex plus text messaging. A large percent of text messaging by both adolescents and adults have become ‘sexting’ and this leads to unconventional relationships and related problems. Interpersonal relationships have greatly flourished with the introduction of text messages as a means of communication, many of them romantic or sometimes even sexual relationships are on the list. There have been numerous discussions on the disadvantages of these relations. But Al Cooper gives a very different concept in his book, ‘Sex and the Internet: A Guidebook to Clinicians’- “In the future this trend will continue, as growing numbers of people find cyberspace a fascinating environment in which to enjoy intimate relations. Certain minorities-physically disadvantaged, sick, older, younger, shy, the unattractive (and those who think they are) - will crowd the net’s social meeting points in greater numbers. Many people will find the net an easy, convenient, inexpensive, efficient place to find a partner; thus, formal and informal matchmaking will flourish. Based on the borderless nature of the internet, this last phenomenon will inevitably increase the number of international, intercultural and inter-religious marriages, ultimately affecting global social patterns.”(Al Cooper, 2003) That is the case with elder people who are in serious relationships. But to many relationships that are exclusively online, after a long while of text messaging, the youngster faces many unexpected problems. “The complications with text messaging, and instant messaging, involve many in terms of emotional and psychological health. Because feelings and emotions are difficult to express on text and instant messaging, your teen may fail to develop these levels of expression accurately.”(Christine Cadena, 2007). Before moving on to the extend of emotional benefits and issues of text messaging, it would be relevant to have a look at the following research data. The study was conducted by CTIA (Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association), an international association for cellular communication and a private company called Harris Interactive. “The study also confirmed that texting is replacing talking among teens. Teens admitted spending nearly an equal amount of time talking as they do texting each month. The feature is so important to them that if texting were no longer an option 47% of teens say their social life would end or be worsened - that’s especially so among females (54% vs. 40%). Teens say texting has advantages over talking because it offers more options, including multitasking, speed, the option to avoid verbal communication, and because it is fun - in that order, according to the study. With more than 1 billion text messages sent each day, it is no surprise that 42% of teens say they can text blindfolded, the study found.” (http://www.marketingcharts.com/interactive/cell-phones-key-to-teens-social-lives-47-can-text-with-eyes-closed-6126/). The following graph also would be relevant to the subject discussed. Courtesy: http://www.marketingcharts.com/interactive/cell-phones-key-to-teens-social-lives-47-can-text-with-eyes-closed-6126/ It can be understood from the chart that so much of importance is given for texting that the teenagers can even type blindfolded. The case is not so different with chats and emails. Facebook, the popular social networking website with IM facility sends more than 1 billion IMs a day. If all the servers like gtalk, yahoo messenger, Windows messengers and all others are taken into account, there may be need to find new numbers to denote them. “Statistics, extrapolations and counting by Radicati Group from August 2008 estimate the number of emails sent per day (in 2008) to be around 210 billion. 183 billion messages per day means more than 2 million emails are sent every second. About 70% to 72% of them might be spam and viruses. The genuine emails are sent by around 1.3 billion email users.”( http://email.about.com/od/emailtrivia/f/emails_per_day.htm) 4. EMOTIONAL ASPECTS OF INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH TEXT MESSAGES Interpersonal relationships are extremely connected with emotions. Whatever is the medium, there is a touch of love, trust and intimacy in the process. It is the same with communication through text messages. But the sad reality is that, the emotions can never be expressed beyond a few smileys or expressions ( , , ‘hehe’ and the like). This in turn creates a generation with suppressed emotions or at least inexpressible emotions. This is fine with the text messages but never with life. The people too much involved in texting make their own shells and live with their mobile phones, computer and themselves. The real world around them becomes insignificant and so does the real people. Below is a study of emotional aspects of texting. 4A. LOVE Texting can happen with a real life friend or partner or a total stranger who became a friend with text messages. In both cases, there are certain limits and limitations for the relation. In the words of Andy Warhol, who was well known for his visual art movement called ‘pop art’ once said, “The most exciting attractions are between two ends that never meet”. This is absolutely true in the case of online love affairs. As far as they don’t meet, the attractions keeps on growing sometimes even above their own personalities. But there is a counter-statement to this argument in the book ‘Love Online: Emotions on the Internet’ by Ben Zeev (2004). “The greater interactivity of cyberspace implies that we have greater control over our personal relationships. For example, when we so desire, we can either slow them down or increase their pace. If someone surprises you- say, by expressing her love to you- you have time to consider your response. You do not have to rely on your spontaneous responses. In this sense, it is easier to cope with online relationships. The sense of greater control is often central to enjoyable experiences.” (Aharon Ben Ze-‘ev, 3) All the above factors revolve around the same center- the text messages are emotionless and emotions should be taken in a higher level than that of the mere words seen on the screen. 4B. TRUST Trust is a funny word when considered with text messaging. Online chatting is often cheating. Anything including the identity of the person may be fake and people having three to four or more love affairs online is not a thrilling news anymore. The problem arises when one person in the relation begins to take it all seriously and then it gets onto head and heart and anything and everything can happen. It happens with friendship, love affair or even mere flirting. The book ‘Love Online: Emotions on the Internet’ by Aharon Ben Ze-‘ev gives detailed discussions on relations that turn out to be sheer betrayal of real life partners and online partners. Sex and sexuality on text messaging are often considered harmless. But it must be always remembered that, sex by any means takes the mind off track due to its nature and emotional maturity will be diluted in time with the process. Any friendship can turn out sexual over text messaging and any love can turn out to betrayals. Trust is the least possible element in text messaging and lust rules the court. It must be added that it is not mere text messages to be blamed but also the current world that provides explicit sex material to any person on a click is equally responsible for the situation. 4C. INTIMACY Text messaging claims of greater intimacy due to the ‘always connected’ concept. But studies reveal that staying connected with dear ones only over media makes people introvert. Their world shrinks to their phone, PC and themselves. This brings in introvert attitude. Unwanted mental stress is an unavoidable thing in such situation as the absence of a message or IM would make them alone. The text message addict people will have very less real life contacts and there is a greater chance for loneliness and solitude. Considering the real life introverts, Yair A. Hamburger fixes his opinion, “Maldonado et al(2001) evaluated computer-mediated messages and found that introverted subjects send messages with an extroverted tone. Their messages more information than those sent by the extroverted subjects.” (Hamburger, 30) Therefore, an intimacy formed in that way too will be fake than real as it is not the genuine personality type. Therefore, by any means text messaging cannot be seen as a substitute to real life interpersonal relationships. It must be remembered that life is always about realities and mobile phones, internet and other facilities are invented by men for men. Therefore, in no way must anyone surrender their personality and relationships to media. Instead, personality and media must guide everyone to bring out the real feelings and meaningfulness of life and relationships. 5. CONCLUSION The influence of computer and internet and mobile technology on inter personal communication and relationship is significant and now a days majority of the people use electronic form for their information sharing with others. The literature related to factors such as communication effectiveness in such relationships, personal factors such as intimacy, trust and maintenance of such relationships was reviewed and found that the internet and mobile communications have played vital role in fast and economically viable communication compared to traditional methods like letters. 6. ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY Al Cooper, 2003. director of the San Jose Marital and Sexuality Centre, edited the first professional book on Sex and the Internet: A Guidebook for Clinicians (Brunner-Routledge, 2003). alcooper @ myinternetcity.com. (Online Sexual Activity.) Ben-Zeev, A. 2004. Love online: emotions on the Internet. Cambridge University press. P:302. ISBN-10: 0521832969. Aaron Ben Ze'ev is a Professor at the Univeristy of Haifa in the Philosophy Department and has been the Rector of the University since 2000. He is a distinguished writer and scholar and addresses in the first full length study of love online. has published articles for many journals such as Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Philosophical Psychology, and Theory & Psychology among others. 'Love Online manages to present a fine combination of engaging reading, comprehensive research and stimulating philosophical debate. Aaron Ben-Zeev's made a charming investigation into internet affairs and their implications for the future of love, sex and marriage.' This book answers the questions like How is an online affair where the two people involved may never see or meet each other different from an affair in the real world? Does online sex still involve cheating on your partner? Why do people tell complete strangers their most intimate secrets? What are the rules of engagement? Will online affairs change the monogamous nature of romantic relationships?. Christine Cadena , 2007. Text & Instant Messaging Inhibits Teen Emotional & Interpersonal Relationships, 27th December 2007, available at URL http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/496103/text_instant_messaging_inhibits_teen.html?cat=15 The author discusses about the messaging as a platform on which to communicate with others, and how the use of technology has changed the way we engage in, and create, interpersonal relationships. It gave critical analysis on the use of text messaging and instant messaging for teenagers which has become significantly more common than any other social group. It also explains the how the transformation has happened in text messaging and internet instant messaging for communicating with any number of acquaintances. The complications with text messaging, and instant messaging that involve many in terms of emotional and psychological health were also discussed. Solutions for reducing these complications by the use of video messaging and webcams as part of the instant and text messaging processes were also provided. Grinter, R. E., & Eldridge, M. A. 2001. y do tngrs luv 2 txt msg? In W. Prinz, M. Jarke, Y. Rogers, K. Schmidt, & V. Wulf (Eds.), Proceedings of the Seventh European Conference on Computer Supported Cooperative Work, 16-20 September 2001, Bonn, Germany P: 219-238. Dordrecht, Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers. The authors made a critical analysis of the pros and cons of the text messaging that is being used by teenagers frequently. They mainly focused on the advantages of the text messaging through internet and email which attracts the teenagers relatively better than any other mode of communication available. IJsselsteijn, W.A., van Baren, J., & van Lanen, F. (2003). Staying in touch: Social presence and connectedness through synchronous and asynchronous communication media. In: C. Stephanidis and J. Jacko (eds.), Human-Computer Interaction: Theory and Practice (Part II), volume 2 of the Proceedings of HCI International 2003, pp. 924-928. The authors gave nice presentation on the impact of communication media on social connectedness. James Everett Katz, Ronald E. Rice, 2002. Social consequences of Internet use: access, involvement, and interaction. The MIT press publication. P: 480. ISBN-10: 0262112698. James E. Katz is Chair of the Department of Communication at Rutgers University and director of the Center for Mobile Communication Studies. Ronald E. Rice is Professor and Chair of the Department of Communication in the School of Communication, Information, and Library Studies, Rutgers University. Nationally representative telephone surveys were conducted from 1995 to 2000 and the authors presented a detailed picture of Internet use in America. They used quantitative data, as well as case studies of Web sites before drawing the conclusions on ‘the impact of the Internet on society from three perspectives’, ‘access to Internet technology (the digital divide)’ and ‘involvement with groups and communities through the Internet (social capital)’. The anlysis was also made on the use of the Internet for social interaction and expression (identity). The authors drew comparisons across media and include Internet nonusers and former users in their research for providing a more comprehensive account of Internet use. They concluded that the Americans use the Internet as an extension and enhancement of their daily routines. Kasesniemi, E., Rautiainen, P., 2002, Mobile culture of children and teenagers in Findland, In James E, Katz & Mark A, Aakhus (Eds), Perpetual contact: Mobile communication, private talk, public performance (pp, 170-192), Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. The authors gave strong analysis of positive and negative effects of mobile culture of children and teenagers in the society. Lenhart, A., Madden, M., & Hitlin, P. (2005). Teens and Technology: Youth are Leading the Transition to a Fully Wired and Mobile Nation. Washington, DC: Pew Internet & American Life Project. The authors presented an analysis of technology effects on the life style of the young people in society. Lenhart, A., Rainie, L., & Lewis, O. (2001). Teenage Life Online: The Rise of the Instant-Message Generation and the Internet's Impact on Friendships and Family Relationships. Washington, DC: Pew Internet & American Life Project. The analysis was focused on the impact of internet on the family relations and friendship. Ling, R., & Yttri, B. (2002). Hyper-coordination via mobile phones in Norway. In J. E. Katz & M. Aakhus (Eds.), Perpetual Contact: Mobile Communication, Private Talk, Public Performance (pp. 139-169). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Marketing Charts. 2009. Harris Interactive. Cell Phones Key to Teens’ Social Lives, 47% Can Text with Eyes Closed” available At URL, http://www.marketingcharts.com/interactive/cell-phones-key-to-teens- social-lives-47-can-text-with-eyes-closed-6126/. The study was conducted online in July 2008 among a nationally representative sample of 2,089 teenagers (age 13-19) across the US who have cell phones. More than 100 questions were asked on mobile phone usage, attitudes, behaviors, and teens’ desires and aspirations for the future of mobile communications, entertainment, and other features. Discussed on mobility for teens means mobile banking, mobile voting, location based services, personal entertainment - the sky is the limit for how mobile our lifestyles in future. Richard Seyler Ling, 2004. The mobile connection: the cell phone's impact on society” Morgan Kaufmann publication. P:244. ISBN-10: 1558609369. The authors presented a critical analysis of societal perspective on mobile telephony. This powerful book illustrates the dramatic changes that have been provided by the social dynamics of the cell telephone and the ways that many long-held customs are changing: The author also provides a compelling examination of the real impact of mobile telephony. He stresses much on people than technology. Yair Amichai-Hamburger, 2005. The social net: understanding human behavior in cyberspace. Oxford University Press. P:296. ISBN-10: 0198528760. This book explains the social psychology of the Internet. With chapters from leading internationally renowned experts, it tackles both the positive and negative aspects of our Internet behaviour. Discussion was made on persuasion and compliance, personality, prejudice, on-line relationships, and human inhibitions. Read More