Social Psychology

Social Psychology- The Individual Self Blog

On the first day of school first impressions mean everything. Fellow classmates and educators get the chance to scope out those that they will be interacting with over the next few months. Cliques and groups are also formed by those that dress the same, play the same sports, or participate in similar activities. In essence a great deal is decided and the impression you make on others with speech, body language, and other actions determines where you stand among classmates. However, for students enrolled in online courses all of the above rules are different. People on a computer do not have the opportunity to interact with their fellow classmates and determine their personalities based on the voice or actions simply because that type of interaction never takes place. Although the traditional rules have been placed aside in an online class, people still have the opportunity to show who they really are.

The author Kenneth Gergen discusses how in our society face-to-face interaction is fading very quickly (Gergen 1991). With the capability and convenience of today’s technology more and more are choosing alternative methods of communication such as texting, social networking cites like Facebook and MySpace, and even video calling sites like Skype. We live in an “on the go” society and these advances in our communication have made life easier for all. Once again the question of being able to fully express one’s true self via the internet arises. Is it really possible to make a connection and impression on an individual you have never seen, but rather chatted with online or via text messaging? Even though technology seems to have taken away this sense of individuality and self expression by lessening the number of face-to-face meetings, it has also given people the opportunity to show their true colors in other ways.

Websites today provide adequate opportunity for its followers to express themselves in ways words cannot. Our blog webpage for example gave each student the opportunity to choose colors, layouts, fonts, music, as well as photographs to place on their individual page. It is through these choices our classmates will get a sense of who we really are as well as what we love to do. A student that chose the most basic layout with no pictures and a two sentence explanation of who they are gives others a sense that maybe this person does not like to put all their information out there, or does not take the class seriously. These are obviously just first impressions or observations, but in the end it is those first impressions that really last whether in person or via some outlet of technology. Gergen also put forth the idea that people will act the way society or those around them are acting (Gergen 1991). Meaning in order to not seem radical or unusual to others, people will act relatively the same way. In an online class students do not have to worry about this aspect of social behavior. A student can complete the assignments listening to loud, offensive music wearing a bathrobe, but due to the fact that no other classmates can actually see or hear them they are able to just be their natural selves without fear of rejection. People in traditional classroom settings do not have such luxuries.

In the end most believe the internet or other technological outlets can only hinder a person’s idea of their “true self” instead of opening up new possibilities for self expression. Those online have ample chances to really show others who they are, what their story is, and what they hope to get out of their time spent on a particular website. The world is constantly changing and allowing new opportunities for people to put themselves and their ideas out on the line without having to leave the comfort of their home or favorite bathrobe.





Gergen, Kenneth J(1991). The Saturated Self. Basic Books Inc.
Beedles, Bonnie and Michael Petracca (2001). Academic Communities/ Disciplinary
Conventions. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.