Social Information Processing Theory: Summary

Nowadays, through computer-mediated communication (CMC) we are able to disseminate information’s about current events, latest fashion trends, health tips and a whole lot more. It has been limited only on the system of transacting businesses since then. But, talking about cyberspace dating or chatting in building close relationships between two people or groups who haven’t seen each other face-to-face is mind boggling.

Not until Joe Walther proposed his Social Information Processing Theory, in which he considered CMC as a tool and can explain that through the exchange of social messages we will be able to create a succeeding relationship online, the same with the face-to-face communication.
But it is also an interpersonal communication theory that suggests that online interpersonal relationship development might require “more time” to develop than traditional face-to-face relationships. In CMC compared to face-to-face communication, personal interaction is absent (Social Presence theory), it makes a rich mix of verbal and nonverbal cue systems into a lean one (Media Richness theory), and people become more self-absorbed (Lack of social context cues).

Although it has been observed that in sending and receiving social messages through CMC nonverbal cues are missing (like tone of voice, facial expressions and gestures), Walther suggested that through verbal cues (the text only message) can be a great help in establishing a new relationship. It’s because through the type written words or message you’ll be able to catch the attention of the person. Another is through extended time (not the amount of social information that can be conveyed online; rather it’s the rate at which that information mounts). Despite our hectic schedules we still have time to chit-chat with others.

Under the SIP theory, there are still predictions about future interaction. There will be certain motivations to see each other sooner or later. Another one is the chronemics (it is the label that nonverbal researches use to describe how people perceive, use, and respond to issues of time in their interaction with others).

Walther introduced also the term hyper personal. It’s explained here the "sender-receiver-channel-feedback" categories.

Sender: Selective Presentation
A person is able to introduce herself/himself in a positive motivation as to attract the receiver. You can show off your good side through the text-based e-mails where the contents are truly impressionable.

Receiver: Over attribution of Similarity
The commonality between the sender and receiver is the issue. Sharing the same likes and dislikes or attributes maybe of great help. This is based on Lea and Spears, Social identity-deindividuation (SIDE).

Channel: Communicating on Your Own Time

Walther refers CMC as an asynchronous channel of communication, meaning parties can use it nonsimultaneously. The recipient can read the messages in his/her free time.

Feedback: Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
“The tendency for a person’s expectation of others to evoke a response from them that confirms what he or she anticipated”. The outcome of all the processes they undergo in getting to know each other.

Here in the SIP Theory, the missing link will remain and it’s the absence of nonverbal cues. And there will always be anticipated future interactions that will disrupt the continuous establishment of relationships through CMC only.