Unit 8

Question 1

What are some main theories to back up social media motivation?

Answer 1

• Uses and Gratification Theory
• Self-Determination Theory
• Attachment Theory

Question 2

Describe Uses and Gratification Theory with social media motivation

Answer 2

• social media engagement as a deliberate action to fulfill specific needs - to satisfy
• social media engagement is viewed as goal-directed, purposive , and motivated in pursuit of needs and wants
• ppl are active- reason for engaging

Question 3

Describe Self-Determination Theory and social media motivation

Answer 3

(prescribed set of needs that need to be fulfilled by social media)

• human behaviour is motivated by a desire to satisfy 3 basic needs -relatedness, autonomy, and competence
• intrinsic and universal
• either satisfy or frustrate
• both satisfaction and frustration further motivate social media use (but only satisfaction will lead to positive outcomes)

Question 4

What is the definition of relatedness?

Answer 4

the need for a sense of connectedness w/ others, -need for belonging, closeness, and intimacy

Question 5

What is the definition of autonomy?

Answer 5

the need to act authentically in a manner consistent w/ one’s true self and to engage n activities b/c one freely chooses to (not b/c should or must)
-self-directed, (not necessarily more separate from parents)

Question 6

What is the definition of competence?

Answer 6

the need to have a personal impact on the environment, the self, and others, and to achieve valued outcomes
-feel capable - success

Question 7

What is a study they did w. basic needs in adolescence? (unrelated to social media)

Answer 7

-looked at satisfaction of 3 basic needs in adolescence, then checked in 10yrs later - those who were satisfied w/ needs were more psychologically well adjusted and were doing better
(frustration leads to passivity and less well-being - high stress, more depression and anxiety)

Question 8

How might social media satisfy relatedness?

Answer 8

• fostering feelings of connection

- provides instant and prolonged access to peer interaction

Question 9

How might social media frustrate relatedness?

Answer 9

-FOMO (compulsive concern that one is missing out or being left out) –> can be a cycle, drive you to use more, feel worse, etc

Question 10

How might autonomy be satisfied by social media use?

Answer 10

• choose who you follow - who you can connect with - what to consume
• asynchronous nature of tech - can construct and curate self-presentations - pick how you want to be (ex. diff accounts, Finsta)

Question 11

How might autonomy be frustrated by social media use?

Answer 11

• pressure to conform a certain way - not actually choosing

- pressure to always be ‘on’ or available

Question 12

Do teens feel the need to present themselves a certain way?

Answer 12

-yes -US -national study - 45% of teens felt an immense pressure to present themselves in a way that others will like/accept

Question 13

How might competence be satisfied by social media use?

Answer 13

• peer validation of self-presentation

- teens hyper aware of how they’re doing in relation to peers (real-time feedback)

Question 14

How might competence be frustrated?

Answer 14

• social comparison
• negative feedback from peers
• shows ideal versions, unrealistic standards, lead to harsher comparisons
• can try to make yourself seem more competent, on social media more

Question 15

Why do we go back to social media?

Answer 15

• if your needs are being met then you go back because it’s working
• if your needs are being frustrated, you can go back to try and overcome those needs, but it can make it worse
• trying to overcome frustration or we want that satisfaction in the first place

Question 16

Summary of social media and motivations

Answer 16

• needs satisfaction (relatedness, autonomy, competence) can be motivation for social media use
• social media/smartphone can reinforce behaviour
• frustration of needs can more further engagement to overcome this
• can make you feel more disconnected which will motivate you to go on it again

Question 17

Summary of social media and motivations

Answer 17

• needs satisfaction (Uses & Gratifications Theory or SDT) can be motivation for social media use
• social media/smartphone can reinforce behaviour
• frustration of needs can more further engagement to overcome this
• can make you feel more disconnected which will motivate you to go on it again

Question 18

What is problematic smartphone use or addiction?

Answer 18

• excessive smartphone use despite negative consequences -leading to compulsive use
• no consistent way of measuring
• lots of debate

Question 19

What are the core features of addiction

Answer 19

1) cognitive salience (obsession)
2) mood modification
3) tolerance
4) withdrawal symptoms
5) conflict
6) relapse

Question 20

what is nomophobia?

Answer 20

phobia of being without your phone

Question 21

What are the problems with defining it as smartphone ‘addiction’?

Answer 21

• lack of evidence that says its a medical addiction
• controversial
• oversimplification of psychological processes
• functionality is overlooked (to satisfy needs)
• not a recognized psychological disorder
• more complicated cycle of using/reasons for use
• if normative behaviour then can’t be a disorder (we can’t all have it)

Question 22

What is attachment theory?

Answer 22

• fundamental human need to form bonds with other
• enduring motivational system designed by natural selection to serve human survival needs
• protect attached individual from physical/psychological harm

Question 23

What is attachment theory?

Answer 23

(-problematic use is maybe adaptive)
-fundamental human need to form bonds with other
-enduring motivational system designed by natural selection to serve human survival needs
-protect attached individual from physical/psychological harm
(begins in infancy)

Question 24

Internal working models of attachment relationships?

Answer 24

• attachments arise from internal working models of attachment relationships
• cognitive schemas - mental representation of what relationships are supposed to be like - future expectations/beliefs
• at any age
• can lead to attachment dimensions

Question 25

What are the two attachment dimensions?

Answer 25

Attachment anxiety –> compulsive proximity seeking and hypersensitivity to signs of rejection or abandonment
-Attachment avoidance –> maximized autonomy and distance from others or avoidance of intimacy

Question 26

What are the 4 key features of attachment bonds? (who came up with it??)

Answer 26

• Ainsworth 1985?
• Safe Haven (safety, protection, support)
• Separation Anxiety (anxiety when parting)
• Secure Base (source of security and confidence)
• Proximity Maintenance (maintain close contact) (not studied w/ phones b/c always have them

Question 27

How is are the 4 attachment bonds changed for smartphones?

Answer 27

• Safe Haven (turning to smartphone to decrease anxiety)
• Separation Anxiety (anxiety when away from phone)
• Secure Base (more confident w/ phone)
• Attachment Insecurity ** (decreased sense of security when separated from phone)

Question 28

Why might a phone be a good attachment target?

Answer 28

-can control it - it’s stable - will give you what you need

Question 29

Who is most likely to develop an attachment to their phone?

Answer 29

Someone who is higher in attachment anxiety -also more likely to use it problematically

Question 30

Summarize the problematic smartphone use and attachment

Answer 30

• those higher in attachment anxiety have higher problematic smartphone use - more likely to form an attachment - higher attachment = higher problematic use
• attachment not an addiction - when attachment brought in, it explained the
• ** listen to video again

Question 31

What negative experiences/harms can social media/smartphone use result in?

Answer 31

• FOMO
• Social comparison
• problematic smartphone use/addiction

Question 32

Summarize Throuvala - focus groups

Answer 32

• qualitative study
• 6 focus groups
• 12-16 in UK -42 teens -6-7 in each group
• thematic analysis
  1. symbiotic relationship w/ peers online via social media & smartphone attachment
  2. digital omnipresence related to need for control & loss of control
  3. emotion regulation and enhancement
  4. idealization versus normalization of self and others
  5. peer comparison and ego validation
  6. functionality - facilitation of communication functions
• beyond uses & gratification & SDT
• -motivational factors underpin mechanisms of FOMO
• limitations: small sample, not general or diverse, bias, homogenous backgrounds, not representative, temporal issues of social media

Question 33

What is social enhancement theory?

Answer 33

rich get richer - individuals offline social networks engage in more extensive online network building to strengthen relationships

Question 34

What is social compensation theory?

Answer 34

-online communication is likely to be used for social compensation & social facilitation in order to offset lack of social skills or difficulties w/ face to face

Question 35

Summarize Parent reading

Answer 35

• smartphones as attachment targets
• alternative to addiction model (cuz neglects psychological)
• 375 participants - aged 18-25 - individuals higher in attachment anxiety experience more problematic smartphone use -relationship is accounted for by their use of their smartphone as an attachment target
• attachment (Bowlby) - to protect from danger -starts in infancy
• not device value as maintaining attachments w/ other ppl, but attachment to device itself
• YA & women more vulnerable for problematic smartphone use
• time spent of smartphone is predictor of p.s.u.
• limitations: -cross-sectional - (can’t make causal claims) - attachment dimensions can change - self-report