Signal Types in Theory.
Friday, October 16, 2009 by May Rose
Every day we rely on signals, whether traffic lights or electronic. Judith Donath talks about Signaling Theory in her article Signals in Social Supernets. She talks about how we rely on these signals when trying to perceive people such as statements made, facial expressions and consumption qualities.
These signals can be divided into three catergories:
1. The Assessment Signal which is normally reliable because one must have the quality in order to produce the signal. E.g. Playing the guitar well involves skill.
2. The Strategic Signal is another kind of Assessment Signal which indicates that a person has a large amount of a resource by wasting it.
3. The Conventional Signal which is when a person describes themselves. This is seen as the least reliable of all signals but can be kept honest through social values and laws.
But as with many things, these signals can be faked with enough perseverance. These signals are easier to fake on SNS sites. This can backfire if friends see you in real life and start questioning. Best bet is to not post anything that you couldn’t justify later.
These signals can be divided into three catergories:
1. The Assessment Signal which is normally reliable because one must have the quality in order to produce the signal. E.g. Playing the guitar well involves skill.
2. The Strategic Signal is another kind of Assessment Signal which indicates that a person has a large amount of a resource by wasting it.
3. The Conventional Signal which is when a person describes themselves. This is seen as the least reliable of all signals but can be kept honest through social values and laws.
But as with many things, these signals can be faked with enough perseverance. These signals are easier to fake on SNS sites. This can backfire if friends see you in real life and start questioning. Best bet is to not post anything that you couldn’t justify later.