Self-expression and relationship formation in high relational mobility environments: A study of dual users of American and Japanese social networking sites.
This study proposes that self-expression motivation, an aspect of independent/individualistic psychological tendencies, aids in the formation of social relationships when social relationships are open and mobile. In societies characterised by high relational mobility (e.g., North America), which creates market-like competition in social relationships, individuals must express their uniqueness and worthiness to form new social relationships. Self-expression motivation has a relatively weak effect on relationship formation in low relational mobility societies (e.g., Japan), where social relationships are generally predetermined. This hypothesis was examined and supported through a study on dual users of two social networking sites-Facebook and Mixi (the "Facebook of Japan"). As expected, relational mobility was higher on Facebook than on Mixi. Moreover, the association between self-expression motivation and the number of new friends met on Facebook/Mixi was more positive for Facebook than it was for Mixi. The social functionality of independent tendencies is then discussed.
Faculty of Economics, Shiga University, Hikone, Japan.
Kosuke
K
Takemura
Graduate School of Management, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
Satoko
S
Suzuki
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D060756:Social Networking; D014481:United States
Independent culture; Individualism; Relational mobility; Self-expression; Social networking sites