7.2 Personality Assessment

I decided to analyze my high school friend’s Facebook page to assess his personality (we shall call him “Sam”). Through environmental cues, I have formed an impression about him, which can be described through several factors in the Brunswikian Lens Model. For my impression to be accurate, both cue validity and cue utilization are necessary; this results in “functional achievement,” or a more accurate impression. A valid cue means it correctly tells you something about a person, while cue utilization questions if the cue is actually used during the impression formation process.

I primarily used the four mechanisms linking individuals to their environment. Other-directed identity claims attempt to convey a specific image of oneself to others in an online space. The self-posted Profile data and photo albums on Facebook has reinforced my view of “Sam” as very involved in activities in his college, extroverted, and as a “rock star.” His pictures available to all his friends on Facebook have shown him and his band performing in several venues over the past year. His self-written “profile” information highlights his love of music through listing his favorite music as many modern rock bands, his sole interest as Music, and quotations from musicians. Self-directed identity cues are mostly directed towards the self and may have very little revealing identity information. My friend has done a lot of traveling with friends and family, and the photos he has uploaded for all to view on Facebook serve both as a reminder to himself of where he has been (self-directed) and what kind of person he wants to portray himself as (other-directed).

External behavioral residue is cues that are leftover results of activity outside an online communication medium (such as Facebook). The comments “Sam” has posted on his friends’ walls and the comments they have posted on his wall serve as the largest source of external behavior residue because they confirm his personality traits and what he has done recently. It has provided a record of “Sam” at this point in his life. Many of his band members have posted complimentary comments about his excellent vocals at their previous performance, and his class mates say they look forward to listening to him perform. This confirms his “rock star” image. Internal behavioral residue is cues that are leftover results of activity from within Facebook (or any online communication medium). For example, when “Sam” added an artist to his list of Favorite musicians, the “News Feed” on Facebook broadcast this update to his profile.

The Five Factor Model (Hancock and Dunham, 2001) states that Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness are five important factors involved in assessing one’s personality online. I agree with Hancock and Dunham’s assertion that Neuroticism, Extraversion, and Agreeableness are much less noticeable in CMC, and especially on “Sam’s” profile. I would argue that “Sam” is highly extroverted and open about his own life and involvement in his band, but he is less agreeable (in terms of the somewhat extreme political views and statements he has listed in his profile) and not at all neurotic. As in person, my Facebook communication has confirmed that he is both agreeable and conscientious in everything he does. I would also argue that his CMC cues are quite valid and accurate, and functional achievement is highly likely.

Comments:

https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=5400576841210402935&postID=1447789653441054858

https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=5400576841210402935&postID=2300652280304839693