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The Communication Theory of Identity identifies four frames of identity and their interpenetration. This article articulates identity gaps as a way to study interpenetration and selected two of the gaps, between personal and relational frames and between personal and enacted identities, for the study. A survey was administered and, as hypothesized, significant negative correlations were observed between the identity gaps and three communication outcomes. Possible causal directions were suggested by post hoc analyses. The results support the theory and suggest the utility of identity gaps as a means for understanding the role of identity in social relationships.
KEY CONCEPTS communication theory of identity, identity gaps, communication outcomes
Identity has, for many years, been a central construct in the social and behavioral sciences. Many origins can be traced as this construct emerged across disciplines as a means of understanding human thought and action. For example, within psychology, identity has been conceptualized as a salient aspect of self and self-concept, functioning to give meaning to people and their self-images (Hogg, 1993; Tajfel & Turner, 1979; Turner, 1991). Within sociology, identity is often conceptualized as social roles, helping to explain how social positionality influences one's sense of self (Schlenker, 1985; Stryker & Burke, 2000).
Recently, scholars have attempted to link individuals and society, turning their attention to the relationship between identity and communication. As early as Goffman's (1959) formative work, researchers have been interested in how individuals "perform" their selves. It seems almost obvious to say that one's self-concepts are engaged when he/she interacts. However, it is less obvious that ascribed identities, the identities that others project on a person (see Collier, 1997, 1998), are not only related to a person's self-images but also to his/her social behavior. R.D. Laing (1966), for example, described a "spiral of reciprocal perspectives" to capture the notion of how one views him/herself and others' view of him/her play out in social relationships.
This concern with identity, social interaction, and social relations gave rise to the new tendency in studying identity - focusing on direct relationships between communication and identity. Mokros (2003) claimed that identity is constituted by self-reflection of discourse and interaction. Noticing that identity was formed in communication, Ting-Toomey (1999) focused more on identity negotiation. People's identities are asserted, defined,...