Nicholas Brody

Socially mediated authenticity

Purpose – Use of digital media channels is growing in public communication. Given the importance of public trust in government figures and agencies, combined with the risk and fear of misrepresentation inherent in online interaction, it is important to develop theoretical frameworks for investigating the ways in which authenticity is constructed in online public affairs communication. The purpose of this paper is to produce a preliminary model of authenticity in online communication, with particular emphasis on public institutions.Design/methodology/approach – The paper first develops a theoretical model of authenticity from existing literature in various disciplines. It then uses that model to explore a quantitative and qualitative content analysis of the comments on the US State Department blog, DipNote, from its inception to the end of the Bush Administration.Findings – Despite limited interactions between DipNote authors and commenters, the types and quantity of responses to posts indicate a desire by...

Intentions to hide and unfriend Facebook connections based on perceptions of sender attractiveness and status updates

We investigated how intentions to hide and unfriend Facebook contacts were linked to perceived sender attractiveness and face-threating messages (FTAs). Intention to hide was higher than intention to unfriend contacts, implying that unfriending is harsher. Low social attractiveness predicted hiding and unfriending intentions, but low physical attractiveness was only linked to hiding. Disrespectful messages were linked to hiding contacts, while updates that made the receiver look bad were linked to unfriending. FTAs also mediated the influence of social and physical attractiveness on hiding and unfriending contacts. Overall, managing online relationships relied on independent and interdependent perceptual and behavioral processes.

Bystander Intervention in Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying incidents often occur in the presence of other bystanders. The inaction of bystanders can augment the deleterious effects of bullying on a victim. However, bystanders can intervene to stop a cyberbullying incident or offer support to the victim. Two studies were conducted to examine variables that were expected to influence the propensity of a bystander to take action in cyberbullying incidents: the number of bystanders, the anonymity of the bystander, and the closeness between the bystander and the victim. Results supported the diffusion of responsibility effect. A higher number of bystanders was negatively associated with bystander intervention. Moreover, the perceived anonymity of bystanders was negatively related to the propensity to intervene, and closeness with the victim was associated with a greater tendency to intervene and support the victim. Altogether, the results shed light on the interplay of context, relationships, and technology in the behavior of bystanders to a cyberbullying episode.

Navigating romantic relationships on Facebook Extending the relationship dissolution model to social networking environments

The present study explores how people use social networking sites to adjust to breakups by studying their postdissolution behaviors. We apply Rollie and Duck’s (2006) relationship dissolution model by examining how collegiate Facebook users (N = 208) enact behaviors in breakups to extend the model to online environments during and after breakups. Furthermore, we employed a retrospective design utilizing qualitative methods to define categories of behavioral responses to a breakup on Facebook. The analysis revealed online behaviors that overlapped with the dissolution model as well as paralleled previous research into online behaviors. Results are discussed using the relationship dissolution model framework to individuals modifying online relationship statuses, “unfriending” previous partners, and limiting profile access in order to manage relationship termination.

Charting changes in commitment Trajectories of on-again/off-again relationships

The present study examined how turning points reported by individuals in on-again/off-again (on–off) relationships reflected relationship trajectories. Participants (N = 581) completed an online Retrospective Interview Technique asking them to report on up to 10 turning points. Participants indicated their commitment level at each turning point. Based on the variations in commitment across turning points, five trajectories emerged. Trajectory groups were compared regarding relational stability factors. Results suggest that on–off partners with a steady-low commitment trajectory reported less stability than individuals with steady-high commitment. Additionally, partners in the fluctuating trajectory, which would seemingly represent less stability, reported moderate perceptions of their relationships, faring better than the low-steady commitment group. Overall, findings add to an understanding of how to best characterize on–off relationships.

The I’s, We’s, and She/He’s of Breakups Public and Private Pronoun Usage in Relationship Dissolution Accounts

People adjusting from couplehood to singlehood often engage in account creation in order to privately make sense of their relationship life and death, as well as publicly explain the changes to their social network. This study analyzes language style differences in retrospective private and public accounts of relationship breakups. We examined language use as it relates to the creation of accounts, breakup initiator status, and relationship dissolution adjustment. We found that (a) public and private breakup accounts contain different types and percentages of first-person and third-person pronouns, (b) pronoun use differs based on the breakup initiator, and (c) use of first-person singular and plural pronouns predicts post-breakup adjustment. Findings suggest that language style differences in private and public accounts from the same person may illustrate variations in how individuals adjust to stressful experiences.

Equity, relational maintenance, and linguistic features of text messaging

Equity predicted maintenance via texting for friends, but not romantic partners.Using the positivity strategy predicted satisfaction in both relationship types.Openness was inversely related to satisfaction in romantic relationships.Use of negative emotion words was negatively associated with satisfaction.Inequity of a relationship positively predicted the use of anxiety words. This study analyzed relational communication via text-messaging in both romantic relationships and close friendships. Research on relational maintenance suggests that relational equality predicts the enactment of maintenance behaviors. The findings supported the predictions of equity theory in a text-messaging context - equity predicted relational maintenance use in friendships. However, openness was inversely related to satisfaction in romantic relationships, implying that discussing the nature of the relationship via text messaging decreases relational satisfaction. Furthermore, the linguistic style of messages was associated with relational satisfaction in romantic relationships and close friendships. Use of negative emotional words hindered relational satisfaction in both romantic relationships and friendships, and use of positive emotional words was associated with increased satisfaction in friendships. These results indicate the centrality of relationally-oriented communication in text messaging, and provide further support for research highlighting the explanatory power of language use in mediated communication.

Effects of Human vs. Computer-Controlled Characters and Social Identity Cues on Enjoyment

This study explored how group identification, avatar similarity identification, and social presence mediated the effect of character type (avatars or agents) and social identity cues (presence or absence of avatars wearing participants’ school colors) on game enjoyment. Playing with teammate avatars increased enjoyment indirectly by enhancing group identification. In addition, the presence of social identity cues increased enjoyment indirectly by augmenting identification with one’s avatar. Unexpectedly, playing in multiplayer mode in the presence of social identity cues decreased enjoyment, whereas playing in multiplayer mode in the absence of social identity cues increased enjoyment. Social presence was not a reliable mediator. The findings supported media enjoyment and social identity theories, and highlighted how virtual character type and identification processes influence enjoyment.

Relational Uncertainty and Communication in On-Again/Off-Again Romantic Relationships: Assessing Changes and Patterns Across Recalled Turning Points

The current investigation explored the association between relational uncertainty and communication quality in on-again/off-again (on-off) relationships using partners’ recalled turning points. We assessed how changes between, and patterns across, turning points were associated with communication quality. On-off partners reported on up to 10 turning points in their relationship. Changes in uncertainty between turning points were negatively associated with changes in communication. Regarding patterns, fluctuation in uncertainty across the turning points was associated with more current openness. In addition, the association between uncertainty fluctuation and current intimacy depended on the proportion of turning points that were breakups.

Social Networking Site Behaviors Across the Relational Lifespan: Measurement and Association With Relationship Escalation and De-escalation:

This study examines (1) the factor structure of social networking site relational behaviors (SNSRB), (2) the association between the behaviors and relational quality and breakup adjustment, and (3) whether behaviors vary as a function of relational status. Participants’ responses (N = 363) indicated that the majority of variance in SNSRB was accounted for by 10 factors—surveillance, managing impressions through photographs, regulating usage, maintaining shared networks/contacts, oversharing, communicating directly via private messages, posting about offline activity, relationship broadcasting, status management, and privacy. Additionally, each factor was associated with the participants’ romantic relationships such as quality of current relationships, adjustment to dissolved relationships, or relational status. This study extends understanding of how technology reflects the way people interact throughout the romantic relationship lifespan.