Formation of and adherence to a self-disclosure norm in an online chat.
To understand how a norm of self-disclosure forms and is adhered to in a synchronous computer-mediated discussion, participants discussed the stigma of mental illness. The transcripts of the discussion were coded for the number of self-disclosures, the number of statements supportive of self-disclosure, and the number of statements supportive of non-self-disclosure. The results showed that the number of self-disclosing statements increased over time, although not in a linear fashion, as did the number of statements supportive of self-disclosure. However, the number of statements supportive of non-self-disclosures decreased over time. These results suggest that once a norm of self-disclosure forms, it is reinforced by statements supportive of self-disclosures but not of non-self-disclosures. The results are discussed in the context of self-disclosure reciprocity and the social identity model of deindividuation effects (SIDE).
Dietz-Uhler
Beth
B
Department of Psychology, Miami University, Middletown, Ohio 45042, USA. uhlerbd@muohio.edu
Bishop-Clark
Cathy
C
Howard
Elizabeth
E
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001292:Attitude to Computers; D003142:Communication; D030881:Disclosure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012925:Social Conformity; D012933:Social Identification; D012944:Social Support; D014584:User-Computer Interface