Identity Management Theory (Relationship) Flashcards Preview

Communication theory > Identity Management Theory (Relationship) > Flashcards

Flashcards in Identity Management Theory (Relationship) Deck (17)
Loading flashcards...
1
Q

Who created the Identity Management Theory?

A

Tadasu Todd Imahori and William R.Cupach

2
Q

Briefly explain the main point of the theory?

A

Explains how identities in relationships go through different phases: establishing, maintenance and change

3
Q

What are the three different types of communication when negotiating relational identities among family, friends, coworkers?

A
  1. Intercultural communication: (partners work out their relational identity)
  2. Intracultural communication: ( When common cultural identities become salient/clear)
  3. Interpersonal communication: (e.g. when a married couples own unique characteristics as a married couple, become more important than their cultural concerns)
4
Q

What is face in this theory?

A

Our desired identity

5
Q

What is facework in this theory?

A

the work we do to establish our own face

- can be supported or threathed

6
Q

Explain the four different ways face-threat can happen.

A
  1. Identity freezing: the tendency to simplify a partner of a different culture.
  2. Non-support problem: Cultural value are ignored. When it is difficult to know if someone is curious of knowing more about the culture or making a judgement.
  3. Self-other dialectic: The tension between supporting your own cultural identity but also supporting the others cultural identity.
  4. Positive-negative face dialectic:
    Then tension between wanting to acknowledge a cultural value (positive face) and not wanting to limit or stereotype (negative face).
7
Q

How can you with identity freezing?

A
  1. point out positive aspects of cultural identity
  2. Laughter/humour
  3. Avoid
  4. Modelling support for the other
    - Handled the same way as non-support problem.
8
Q

How can you handle non-support problem?

A
  1. point out positive aspects of cultural identity
  2. Laughter/humour
  3. Avoid
  4. Modelling support for the other
    - handled the same way as identity freezing.
9
Q

How can you handle Self-other face dialectics? (balancing your own culture and the other persons culture)

A
  1. Give in
  2. Holding your ground
  3. Changing between supporting the two identities
  4. Avoiding the issue
10
Q

How can you handle Positive-negative face dialectics?

A
  1. stay in an agreed comfort zone
  2. Use indirect and direct signs as warning (what to say and what not to say)
  3. Avoid taking the culture into subject
  4. Provide nonverbal support
11
Q

Give an example of identity freezing.

A

If you because you are dane are seen as being blonde haired, tall and only eat pork

12
Q

Give an example of nonsupport problem.

A

If someone asks you about a danish tradition and you are not sure if they are asking because they are curious or because they are judging

13
Q

Give an example of self-other dialectics.

A

If a Danish person celebrates christmas with someone from another culture and try to incorporate something from their culture into their tradition. It might be difficult to be supportive of that and still be true to their own culture/traditions.

14
Q

Give an example of positive-negative face dialectics.

A

Positive face: People order pork for you at your first day of work in an other country because you are danish because they want to acknowledge your culture.

Negative face: You feel stereotyped because they ordered pork. You are actually a vegetarian loving indian food and therefor feel stereotyped as a dane.

15
Q

What is positive face in Identity Management Theory?

A

Positive face is when you want to acknowledge a cultural value.

16
Q

What is negative face in Identity Management Theory?

A

Negative face is when you stereotype/limit the persons cultural value.

17
Q

There are different relation stages in Identity management theory. Name them and briefly explain what happens in the different stages.

A
  1. Trial: the partners are beginning to explore their cultural differences and what cultural identity they want for their relationship.
  2. Enmeshment: Commonly established cultural features. Level of comfort.
  3. Renegotiation: Strong relational identity and work through identity issues. They know what to expect and have established a way to negotiate the cultural differences.