The Role of Self-Construal and Public Self-Consciousness in Positive Self-Presentation on Facebook

• In Event: Presenting the Self in Social Media

Abstract

In the present research, two studies examined how self-construal and public self-consciousness jointly influence positive self-presentation in online social networking. Participants' independent and interdependent self-construals were either measured (Study 1, N = 137) or manipulated with priming (Study 2, N = 121). Public self-consciousness was measured with self-report in both studies. Positive self-presentation on Facebook was measured in the form of self-reported tendency to engage in positive self-presentation (Study 1) and behavioral intention to engage in positive self-presentation (Study 2). Results showed that independent and interdependent self-construal did not have a main effect on positive self-presentation. However, there was a significant interaction between self-construal and public self-consciousness, such that participants' interdependent self-construal strengthened the positive association between public self-consciousness and positive self-presentation on Facebook. The implications and limitations of the findings were discussed.

Authors

• Minsun Shim, Inha University

• Roselyn J. Lee-Won, Ohio State U

• Sang Hee Park, Chungbuk National U