The characteristics of interpersonal relationships in network communication

ネットワーク コミュニケーション ニオケル タイジン カンケイ ノ トクチョウ

ダイボウ, イクオ

Daibo, Ikuo

オオサカ ダイガク ダイガクイン ニンゲン カガク ケンキュウカ タイジン シャカイ シンリガク ケンキュウシツ

ネッワーク・コミュニケーション

対面コミュニケーション

CMC

interpersonal communication

network communication

Although progress of network communication in recent years is remarkable, its communicative feature has not yet discussed enough. While it is convenient to exchange messages in letters, it is important to examine the distinctive characteristics of network communication, such as singularity of the network communication scene, which lacks in visual contact with conversation partner, the limit, and the features of interpersonal relationships in network communication. Since network communication is an indirect media in which letters are the main means of communication and in which back channels do not exist, it serves poorly in strengthening interpersonal intimacy, and in building flexible relationships easily. Although network relationships are built with partners chosen by oneself, there are less expansion and progress of interpersonal relationships compared to the direct, face-to-face relationships. The relational intimacy is formed by "perceived" attitude based on the utterance possession and the contents of utterance. Since network situation produces less self-consciousness or strain than in face-to-face situation, network communication is evaluated positively in that people can express their thought well spontaneously, thus it has the advantage of helping to restore interpersonal maladaptation gradually. In sum, there are both positive and negative aspects to the network communication: the positive side of the network communication is that it has the possibility to bring about new functions and new communication culture in the communication style. The negative side of it is that since the relation is made indirect and limited, the communication also will become limited. The need to devise to build the highly intimate and condensed relationships with new expression style and other new media is discussed.