I decided to use the Brunswikian Lens Model to assess the personality of K’s through the Facebook profile.
Brunswik’s lens model describes one process by which individuals make inferences about the characteristics of others. Observers judge individuals’ personality by their behaviors and generate artifacts. This model discusses the utility of various cues in terms of cue validity, cue utilization, and functional achievement. Cue validity indicates the accuracy of a cue in describing a person. Cue utilization refers to the process of an observer using a cue for impression formation. Functional achievement is the link between the two when cue validity and cue utilization both happen. And when functional achievement occurs, an observer should make an accurate judgment about a target.
In their study of personality judgments, Gosling’ group proposed four mechanisms that linked individuals to the environments that they inhabit: self-directed identity claims, other-directed identity claims, interior behavioral residue, and exterior behavioral residue.
First, self-directed identity claims are statements by the target that benefit the target and reinforce self-view. I consider the groups she joined in on facebook are self-directed identity claims, since few casual observers would notice this part, and K joined the groups pretty much depending on her own interest. The group of “Sichuan people” can tell us that she originally came from or has attachments to that place, though her profile says her home is in NJ. Second, other-directed identity claims are statements by the target to reinforce desired view by others. I think the rest of the identity claims like her profile picture, tagged photos and friends list were mostly directed to others. Take tagged photos for example: she has 124 pictures tagged and taken by herself but only 2 tagged by others. It’s hard to believe that nobody other than her took photos of her. Her choice of pictures is obviously for presenting herself to others and she looks prettier in these photos rather than those tagged by others. Third, interior behavioral residue is a reflection of past behaviors or possible future behavior within the immediate environment. K’s minifeeds and wall post can be the typical examples for this residue. From the minifeed I can tell that she’s been really active on Facebook recently: she had 4 minifeeds on average for each day in the past week. Fourth, exterior behavioral residue is a reflection of past behaviors or possible future behavior outside the immediate environment. Her photos taken on her vocation to NYC during fall break can be a good example.
Rating K on the big five personality traits ( neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and contentiousness ): Lots of her wall post started with things like ”I am good, thanks for asking…” or “Thanks for your b-day wishes…”, I can see that she is always the one who starts a conversation, or who really likes to keep in touch with friends. Also, she usually makes quick and warm responses to her wall post. I highly rated her extraversion (energy and tendency to seek the company of others), agreeableness and conscientiousness (energy and tendency to seek the company of others). Her profile includes lots of information about herself. Even for the category of “my favorite music”, she filled in more than 20 singers. Her willingness of sharing her information showed her highly openness.
Based on what I know about K, I think the assessment is basically accurate. She is an open, friendly and warm person in life.
3 comments:
Hey Yu Tian,
I thought your blog post was very informative and well organized. It's good that you included information about cue utilization and cue validity, and their definitions. This expands the Brunswikian Lens Model and provides a more concrete idea.
I liked how you provided definitions of each mechanism, along with detailed and well-explained examples from the Facebook environment.
Perhaps you can expand on the Five Factor Model, and include the other traits (if they were readable or not).
From my own assessment of my friend on Facebook, I also found that the profile was relatively accurate.
Good post!
I think you are speaking the truth when you say her facebook is accurate. Rarely are people's profiles inaccurate because of the amount of FtF friends and aquaitances they have. I really descriptive explanaitions of the Brunswikian Lens Model. I was wondering, if K had so much information, do you think that she was utilizing too many cues or descriptors of herself and leaving a broad picture in peoples mind?
You certainly did a great job defining the Brunswikian Lens Model and explaining the self identity claims and behavioral residues. This made it very easy to understand your analysis of K's profile and why your examples were relevant.
I would suggest giving a little bit more background at the begining, just becuase I was confused at first as to who "K" was; I didn't know if it was a stranger, a friend, or if it was even a person that we were all supposed to be familiar with. But you did a great job at the end explaining her traits and five factor models. Good job commenting on if her facebook is accurate or not, that is something I forgot to do with the person I analyzed! :-)
Post a Comment