Mediated Interaction and Human Development
Introduction
Arthur Kover seeks input on how mediated interaction, that is, non-human-human direct interaction, impacts the formation of humans as social beings
I have become interested in George Herbert Mead’s theory of personality-formation. Mead thinks that the social being is formed largely by internalization of direct interactions with human ‘others’, most likely in stable environments.
Times have changed. Ever-expanding aspects of interactions are no longer by direct access to other humans. They can be mediated (internet, texts, cell phones, other vehicles in new media), one-way (TV is one example) , or with non-humans (games, AI).
What effects on human-formation do these different kinds of interactions have?
Working through the lens of Mead’s (and Charles Horton Cooley’s) theories, one can expect these new humans to be quite different from their elders.
I plan to explore the differences after a period of exploration (both in the thoughtful popular press and in academic work) and hypothesis-formation.
To do so, normally would demand a large longitudinal study, following and periodically observing a large group over time. However, I am over 80 years old and do not have either the time or access to academic funding; that research path is no longer possible.
Some of this information might be found in major databases. I am an old fashioned survey researcher and a rank amateur about accessing databases. With this note, I call on colleagues through ELMAR for referrals to possible databases and perhaps some guidance in accessing them? Most useful information will be:
- Individual information
- Amounts of time spent (each day?) in direct interactions and immersion in other forms of interaction (specifics as possible)
- the individual’s age and much of the usual background information as possible
- if possible, some kind of testing for aspects of personality
- failing that, information about views of the self and others, some measurement of Weltanschauung.
- failing that, a description of work or other daily activities ( from which, an idea of the person and persona could be inferred.)
ELMAR readers, if you have ideas of how to access this kind of information in a database, please contact me:
Or
Arthur Kover, 22 South Front Street (501), Philadelpha, PA 19106
Or
860-51-3119
Thanks,
Arthur Kover
Emeritus professor of marketing, Fordham University
Most recently, Management Fellow, Yale School of Management