0. Computer-Mediated Communication
Deception…Part uno.

1. Computer-Mediated Communication
Digital Deception
“intentional control of information in a technologically mediated message to create a false belief in the receiver of the message.”
Intention
Purpose to Mislead
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Computer-Mediated Communication

2. Types of Digital Deception
Identity-Based
Stems from false manipulation of person or organization
Message-Based
Takes place in communication between dyads or larger groups
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Computer-Mediated Communication

3. Identity…ambiguity vs. deception
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Computer-Mediated Communication

4. Identity Theory (Sociology)
Identity Theory (i.e., Stryker 1980)
Individuals have “role identities”: character and the role an individual devises as an occupant of a particular social position. ‘Self’ is hierarchical ordering of identities by salience. The greater the commitment on an identity, the greater the salience of the identity. Salience of identity influences behavioral choices in a situation.
Identity Theory is from Sociology: consider female voter example
Social Identity Theory is from Psychology: consider sports identification example, in-group/out-groups
Minimal Group Studies: just being in a group can have relatively profound effects.
We tend to attribute out-group success to ‘luck’ and in-group success to innate qualities
(fundamental attribution error)
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Computer-Mediated Communication

5. When and Where Do You “Activate” Your Identity?
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Computer-Mediated Communication

6. Social Identity Theory (Psychology)
Social Identity Theory (i.e., Tajfel, et al 1981; Turner 1985)
How group membership and “belongingness” have consequences for interpersonal and intergroup relations. As one looks for a positive sense of self, they compare their group with other groups and tend to create a favorable distinction for their own group
Photo: Courtesy of movie, “Dazed and Confused”
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Computer-Mediated Communication

7. “Minimal Group” Paradigm
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Computer-Mediated Communication

8. Information Signaling
Deception and Identity
(Donath 1999) argues that in some cases, deception is very difficult because we have assessment signals
Assessment signals: cost is directly related to the ‘advertised trait’
Conventional signals, however, are open to deception
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Computer-Mediated Communication

9. Expression and Interpretation
Recall: Donath (1999) ties the both voice and language to Erving Goffman’s concepts of “expressions given” and “expressions given off”:
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Computer-Mediated Communication

10. Computer-Mediated Communication
Finally, after reading all the articles, Chuck Norris wonders about selective deception, cases where one tries to deceive a majority while conveying a message that is only understood by a few (somewhat like an inside joke). Is this sphere documented/researched at all or would it be too challenging? Chuck Norris expects there to be something in this sphere, such as analyzing Osama Bin Laden's videotapes for messages before releasing it on nationalized television.
Good point here: Chuck Norris sees the meta-message where average humans do not.
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Computer-Mediated Communication

11. Computer-Mediated Communication
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Computer-Mediated Communication

12. Deception, Norms and Perception
Users who post these photographs are conforming to a social trend at the expense of their individuality
The presentation of these photographs is narcissistic
These photographs purposefully conceal the body
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Computer-Mediated Communication

13. Computer-Mediated Communication
One thing that came up for me but wasn't really addressed in the article was the gender dynamics that are at play in this kind of situation. Sessions indicates early on that most of the pictures being policed for MySpace Angles are of women, and most of the policing (particularly that which falls into the category of "criticism") is being done by men. She takes for granted that men police because they are primarily concerned with physical attractiveness in women, whereas women engage in mocking their own because (i.e. jealousy). This seemed to me to be kind of a superficial take on the interplay of (heterosexual) sexual/romantic relationships and patriarchy going on here.
-Hannah S.
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Computer-Mediated Communication

14. The Deception in the Message…
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Computer-Mediated Communication

15. How is deception different online and offline?
Almost everything is a conventional signal online. Giving vs. giving off — time, complete channel control. You can give off almost nothing. What are some examples of things you might give off in a text-only chat room?
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Computer-Mediated Communication

16. Computer-Mediated Communication
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Computer-Mediated Communication

17. Media Richness and Media Choice Revisited
Media ‘richness’ is only a singular dimension that may mask the complexity of choice, behavior and inference of purpose.
Image: Time Barrow Dissertation Research,
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Computer-Mediated Communication

18. Computer-Mediated Communication
Other Dimensions:
Synchronicity
Recordability
Distribution of Speaker/Listener
Synchronous implies more lies…why?
Recordable implies less lies
Distribution (co-presence) may reduce *some* types of deception
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Computer-Mediated Communication

19. Detecting Digital Deception
Again, complex problem with no single dimension that makes a clear and consistent prediction
Image: Time Barrow Dissertation Research,
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Computer-Mediated Communication