Self, script, and situation: Identity in a world of ICTs

Abstract

In this paper I will elucidate why 'situation' is a constructive unit of analysis for the study of both identity and the impact of technologies (particularly ICTs) on identity. Further, I will use a situational perspective to show some of the ways in which the 'definition of situations' may be affected by such technologies. I will conduct a conceptual analysis of the 'definition of a situation', looking into the notion of 'scripts', to show how alterations in scripts lead to changes in the 'definition of the situation', and these in turn lead to shift in the development and expression of identity. © 2008 International Federation for Information Processing.