Identity Construction CyComp

8/9/2019 Identity Construction CyComp

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In search of a common languageIn search of a common language

Identity construction in online

communication with people with HighFunctioning Autism and Asperger

Syndrome

A research by Martina Di Renzo Buckley

School of Applied PsychologyUniversity College Cork

Ireland


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What came beforeWhat came before

The current stage of research is the naturalThe current stage of research is the naturalcontinuation of a study finished in 2008: In Search of acontinuation of a study finished in 2008: In Search of aCommon LanguageCommon Language

Enquiry on ComputerEnquiry on Computer--Mediated Communication andMediated Communication andpeople with Asperger Syndrome (AS) and Highpeople with Asperger Syndrome (AS) and High

Functioning Autistic Spectrum Disorder (HFASD)Functioning Autistic Spectrum Disorder (HFASD)Online communication as a favourite mean of dialogueOnline communication as a favourite mean of dialoguefor people in the autistic spectrum?for people in the autistic spectrum?

NonNon--medical approachmedical approach

Focus on language used by participants: structure ofFocus on language used by participants: structure of

dialogue and personal narrativedialogue and personal narrativeParticipants trying to make sense of experiencesParticipants trying to make sense of experiencesrelated to their autistic identityrelated to their autistic identity


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Research question (first stage ofResearch question (first stage of

research)research)

Lack of communication between people in theLack of communication between people in the

spectrum andspectrum and neurotypicalsneurotypicals the termthe term

normal is taboonormal is taboo

Can ComputerCan Computer--Mediated Communication (CMC)Mediated Communication (CMC)

help to bridge the communication gap betweenhelp to bridge the communication gap between

people with HFASD/AS andpeople with HFASD/AS and neurotypicalneurotypical people?people?

The language used in CMC can be theThe language used in CMC can be the commoncommonlanguagelanguage between the two communitiesbetween the two communities


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Resear esti (second stage)Research estion (second stage)

How do people with Asperger SyndromeandHow do people with Asperger Syndromeand

A tistic Spectr m Disorder make senseof theirA tistic Spectr m Disorder make senseof their

experiences sing CMC?experiences sing CMC?

SecondSecond--tier:tier:

What kindof experiences are people with ASWhat kindof experiences are people with AS

(Asperger Syndrome) and HFASD (High(Asperger Syndrome) and HFASD (High

F nctioning A tistic Spectr m Disorder) areF nctioning A tistic Spectr m Disorder) aretrying tocomm nicate withonline written text?trying tocomm nicate withonline written text?


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ModelsModels

JohnJohn SulersSulers Psychology of Text Relationship (Psychology of Text Relationship (http://wwwhttp://www--usr.rider.edu/~suler/psycyber/psytextrel.html

usr.rider.edu/~suler/psycyber/psytextrel.html):):oo CMC is the preferred mean of communication for people who love toCMC is the preferred mean of communication for people who love to

write and hate facewrite and hate face--to face talkto face talk typically people with HFASD and AStypically people with HFASD and AS

oo Fluidity of CMC due to the absenceof FTF cuesFluidity of CMC due to the absenceof FTF cues

oo DisinhibitionDisinhibition effect caused by the anonymity of text effect caused by the anonymity of text--basedbasedcommunicationcommunication

Virtual Ethnography (Christine Hine): organization of socialVirtual Ethnography (Christine Hine): organization of socialrelationships on the Internet. Are virtual relationships radicallyrelationships on the Internet. Are virtual relationships radicallydifferent from the real? How are identities performed anddifferent from the real? How are identities performed andexperienced?experienced?

Chris Mann & Fiona StewartsChris Mann & Fiona Stewarts Internet communication andInternet communication andQualitative ResearchQualitative Research (2000): Online communication allows(2000): Online communication allows

reaching geographicallyreaching geographically--scattered populationsscattered populationsPhenomenological psychology: Phenomenological approach to CMCPhenomenological psychology: Phenomenological approach to CMCmodelsmodels


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MethodologyandMethodMethodologyandMethod

First stage: three months of datagatheringFirst stage: three months of datagathering

Only synchronous communication (MSNOnly synchronous communication (MSNMessenger, YahooMessenger, Aspergers IrelandMessenger, YahooMessenger, Aspergers Ireland

chatroom)chatroom)SemiSemi--structured interviews to 5 participantsstructured interviews to 5 participants

Active input from participants that helped toActive input from participants that helped torere--structure the interview protocol for thestructure the interview protocol for the

following stageof the researchfollowing stageof the research cooperativecooperativeenquiry.enquiry.

Discourse Analysis was usedon thedata.Discourse Analysis was usedon thedata.


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MethodologyandMethodMethodologyandMethod

Second stage (ongoing):Second stage (ongoing): Virtual ethnographyVirtual ethnography aa

methodological starting point for data collection inmethodological starting point for data collection in

community forums, blogs and social networks.community forums, blogs and social networks.

Longitudinal study for a periodof 4/6 monthsLongitudinal study for a periodof 4/6 months

Analysis of blog posts andAnalysis of blog posts and FacebookFacebook pages. Verypages. Very

interesting link between blogs andinteresting link between blogs and FacebookFacebook..

Creationof websiteCreationof websitehttp://www.ucc.ie/en/iscl/http://www.ucc.ie/en/iscl/

and blogand bloghttp://searchofacommonlanguage.blogspot.com/http://searchofacommonlanguage.blogspot.com/


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Research website:Research website: http://www.ucc.ie/en/iscl/http://www.ucc.ie/en/iscl/


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Analysis (first stage)Analysis (first stage)

Preliminaryanalysis revealed threenarrativesPreliminaryanalysis revealed threenarratives(transcripts were coded accordingly)(transcripts were coded accordingly)

Communication between onlineand offline worldCommunication between onlineand offline world

Identityand description of selfIdentityand description of self

Diagnosis discourseDiagnosis discourse

Coding process allowed to reduce the data to aCoding process allowed to reduce the data to a

manageable sizeand suggested a main coremanageable sizeand suggested a main core

narrative: Construction of self onlinenarrative: Construction of self onlineNine interpretative repertoires and a pool ofNine interpretative repertoires and a pool of

tropestropes


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Cruel real world (lack of communication)Cruel real world (lack of communication)I'm glad we can talk onlineI'm glad we can talk online-- it's much harder in personit's much harder in person

I remember life preI remember life pre--Internet, when I had no social life at all. IInternet, when I had no social life at all. Iwas married [] and had no friends or social life at all. It was, Iwas married [] and had no friends or social life at all. It was, Iimagine, a little like being in prison.imagine, a little like being in prison.

I mean it's nice to feel accepted in a group, that is ifI was in one.I mean it's nice to feel accepted in a group, that is ifI was in one.

In the offline world, I seem to be invisibleIn the offline world, I seem to be invisible

Written communicationWritten communicationIfI were using my voice rather than my fingers, I'd get stuckIfI were using my voice rather than my fingers, I'd get stuck

pretty quickpretty quick

I sometimes us MSN to communicate with my mother fromI sometimes us MSN to communicate with my mother from

another room and findI can have a great conversation.another room and findI can have a great conversation.

There's too much nonThere's too much non--verbal social cuing when talking face toverbal social cuing when talking face to

face. After the first routines I use, I get lostface. After the first routines I use, I get lost

butbut ii prefer talking online at times, means that the hiddenprefer talking online at times, means that the hidden

signals within speech are non existentsignals within speech are non existent


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Safe online worldSafe online world

Also, I likeAlso, I like chatroomschatrooms and Groups like Yahoo for the sameand Groups like Yahoo for the same

reason... structured, safe, no visual cuingreason... structured, safe, no visual cuing

Online, people only judge me on writing, which isOnline, people only judge me on writing, which is

something I do wellsomething I do well

most of us have an inability to make friends thus turningmost of us have an inability to make friends thus turningto the comfort of the computer. We know there will beto the comfort of the computer. We know there will be

someone to talk to and we won't feel as much alonesomeone to talk to and we won't feel as much alone

I need a long timeI need a long time-- sometimes even a day or twosometimes even a day or two-- toto

recharge after a "realrecharge after a "real--life" social contact. Onlinelife" social contact. Onlinecontact is not socontact is not so overstimulatingoverstimulating..


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Identity and isolationIdentity and isolation

I do, actually, hate what I am.I do, actually, hate what I am.

Ian: bah sometimes I hate myself.Ian: bah sometimes I hate myself.

Ian:Ian: cuzcuz i'mi'm awkward ;pawkward ;p

Ian: mostly physicallyIan: mostly physically

I feel like my children are supported, and DisabilityI feel like my children are supported, and Disability

Services is quite good. But on a personal level?I live inServices is quite good. But on a personal level?I live in

a village of 250, and the other residents here have alla village of 250, and the other residents here have allbut snubbed me.but snubbed me.


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Social expectationsSocial expectationsIreally fear meeting new people and making a bad impression

Ireally fear meeting new people and making a bad impression

Question 2: You are a hiring manager. One applicant clearlyQuestion 2: You are a hiring manager. One applicant clearly

has better technical qualifications than the others. Whenhas better technical qualifications than the others. When

you interview him, you notice that he rocks in his chair,you interview him, you notice that he rocks in his chair,

does not make eye contact, and speaks in a monotone. Willdoes not make eye contact, and speaks in a monotone. Will

you:(A) Hire him because he is the most qualifiedyou:(A) Hire him because he is the most qualifiedcandidate; (B) Hire him, even though you think he's creepy,candidate; (B) Hire him, even though you think he's creepy,

because you're afraid of being sued if you don't (C) Talk withbecause you're afraid of being sued if you don't (C) Talk with

your buddyIn Human Resources about how to cover your assyour buddyIn Human Resources about how to cover your ass

when you reject him; (D) Just tell him flatwhen you reject him; (D) Just tell him flat--out that youout that you

don't hire his kind.don't hire his kind.


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Diagnosis as a reliefDiagnosis as a reliefIt was a relief to get a diagnosis, and to learn what theIt was a relief to get a diagnosis, and to learn what the

diagnosis meant.It answered all the questions

Ihad aboutdiagnosis meant.

It answered all the questions

Ihad aboutmyself. I understood whyI had so much trouble makingmyself. I understood whyI had so much trouble making

friends and having a social life.friends and having a social life.

I always felt I had some invisible fault or defect that everyoneI always felt I had some invisible fault or defect that everyone

else noticed besides me, and that nobody would tell meelse noticed besides me, and that nobody would tell me

what it waswhat it wasDiagnosis as a labelDiagnosis as a label

ii viewed myself as an outcastviewed myself as an outcast

M: How did you feel about your diagnosis?M: How did you feel about your diagnosis?

S:S: labeledlabeled.. insane.... insane..Ian: because AS is a "bad disability"Ian: because AS is a "bad disability"


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Definition of diversityDefinition of diversityorganisingorganising AspiesAspies is a little like trying to herd cats. :)is a little like trying to herd cats. :)

Idont like half the

Idont like half the aspiesaspies

Iknow ;p

Iknow ;p

I dont view myself as disabled a lot, only whenI dont view myself as disabled a lot, only when imim downdown

Learning to copeLearning to copeI have strong masking routines, including facial and gestures. ButI have strong masking routines, including facial and gestures. But

they are rehearsed, and executed the same almost every time.they are rehearsed, and executed the same almost every time.ii kept my mouth zipped till mum noticed a decline in my healthkept my mouth zipped till mum noticed a decline in my health

Disability services is trying to hire someone to come here to helpDisability services is trying to hire someone to come here to helpme organise my house. I'm not sure how that will work outme organise my house. I'm not sure how that will work outthough, as I don't like people touching my things!though, as I don't like people touching my things!


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Concl sions (first stage)Concl sions (first stage)

Participants sed the interviews as anarrativeParticipants sed the interviews as anarrative

tool for theconstr ctionof themselvestool for theconstr ctionof themselves

Participants awareof differences betweenonlineParticipants awareof differences betweenonline

and offline worldand offline worldNarrative has circular structureNarrative has circular structure

Constructionofa different selfonlineConstructionofa different selfonline

OnlineworldOnlineworldas a safe placeas a safe place

Social isolationas a risk worth takingSocial isolationas a risk worth taking


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Link et een t o stages of researchLink et een t o stages of research

The study started as anenquiry onComputer-Mediated Communicationand people ith Asperger Syndrome(AS) and High Functioning Autistic

Spectrum Disorder (HFASD)It ended up as a virtual

storytelling experienceParticipants trying to make sense

ofexperiences related to their

autistic identityNeed toexplore different

platforms ofonlinecommunication


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Futureof researchFutureof research

The world ofadults with AS and HFADS needs to beThe world ofadults with AS and HFADS needs to be

explored and their issues analysed and addressed.explored and their issues analysed and addressed.

CMC and other forms of text based communication couldCMC and other forms of text based communication could

help to relieve social anxiety and communicationhelp to relieve social anxiety and communication

impairments and could be successfully applied inimpairments and could be successfully applied incolleges and workplaces.colleges and workplaces.

Storytelling natureof Internet communication: anStorytelling natureof Internet communication: an

ideal platform for people with AS/HFASD to start makingideal platform for people with AS/HFASD to start making

senseof their experiences.senseof their experiences.Ethical issues concerning researchon social networks andEthical issues concerning researchon social networks and

blogs.blogs.

Contribution to VirtualContribution to Virtual EthnograpyEthnograpy..

Identity Construction CyComp

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