What are some main theories to back up social media motivation?
- Uses and Gratification Theory
- Self-Determination Theory
- Attachment Theory
Describe Uses and Gratification Theory with social media motivation
- 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
Describe Self-Determination Theory and social media motivation
(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)
What is the definition of relatedness?
the need for a sense of connectedness w/ others, -need for belonging, closeness, and intimacy
What is the definition of autonomy?
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)
What is the definition of competence?
the need to have a personal impact on the environment, the self, and others, and to achieve valued outcomes
-feel capable - success
What is a study they did w. basic needs in adolescence? (unrelated to social media)
-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)
How might social media satisfy relatedness?
- fostering feelings of connection
- provides instant and prolonged access to peer interaction
How might social media frustrate relatedness?
-FOMO (compulsive concern that one is missing out or being left out) –> can be a cycle, drive you to use more, feel worse, etc
How might autonomy be satisfied by social media use?
- 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)
How might autonomy be frustrated by social media use?
- pressure to conform a certain way - not actually choosing
- pressure to always be ‘on’ or available
Do teens feel the need to present themselves a certain way?
-yes -US -national study - 45% of teens felt an immense pressure to present themselves in a way that others will like/accept
How might competence be satisfied by social media use?
- peer validation of self-presentation
- teens hyper aware of how they’re doing in relation to peers (real-time feedback)
How might competence be frustrated?
- 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
Why do we go back to social media?
- 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
Summary of social media and motivations
- 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
Summary of social media and motivations
- 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
What is problematic smartphone use or addiction?
- excessive smartphone use despite negative consequences -leading to compulsive use
- no consistent way of measuring
- lots of debate
What are the core features of addiction
1) cognitive salience (obsession)
2) mood modification
3) tolerance
4) withdrawal symptoms
5) conflict
6) relapse
what is nomophobia?
phobia of being without your phone
What are the problems with defining it as smartphone ‘addiction’?
- 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)
What is attachment theory?
- 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
What is attachment theory?
(-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)
Internal working models of attachment relationships?
- 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
