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What is IMT?/Introduction

Identity Management Theory or IMT, came up in the early 1990’s. It argues that individuals perceive their identities differently at different given points across time and space. Developed by William R. Cupach and Tadasu Todd Imahori, IMT was inspired by Erving Goffman’s ‘Interaction Ritual: Essays on Face-to-Face Behavior’, published in 1967.

IMT is heavily based on Goffman’s book. Goffman talks about self-image of an individual while interacting with another individual. This self-image is not permanent and the social influence has a huge bearing on it this is the image that the individual can expect project in the future. Depending on how the individual changes and perceives himself according to the social context. Cupach and Imahori say that the ability to communicate requires the individual to ‘successfully negotiate the mutually acceptable identities in interaction.’

Identity Management Theory

Monkey Business/dollar photo club

Two Ways of IMT

  • The ability to communicate includes the ability to manage relational and cultural identities
  • Face work is the determinant factor in identity management as an individual’s face reflects his relational and cultural identities

Cupach and Imahori also include ‘intercultural communication’ and ‘intracultural communication’. The former includes speakers from different cultures and the latter includes speakers from the same culture. Ignorance of different cultures often leads to the use of stereotypes. This is, however, face threatening. But, being able to manage differences is part of intercultural communication.

To be able to develop intercultural relationships, there are three steps that need to be followed. The first is ‘trial and error’, which is to look for similar points of interests and aspects in the identities. The second is ‘mixing up’, which is to develop a relational identity between the individuals which is acceptable to both. The third is to reshape the distinctive cultural identities keeping in context the relational identity.

Aspects of IMT

The face is an important aspect of IMT. The face is said to be reflective of the cultural and relational identities, an individual’s face work, thus, is indicative of his opinions and reactions. Brown and Levinson give a distinction of the face work that people naturally posses. Positive face refers to a desire for acceptance and approval from others. Negative face refers to an individual’s desire for independence and freedom from imposition.

Conclusion

If an Indian and Japanese meet for the first time, assuming that they have a common language with which to communicate, they would first greet each other. The Indian would fold his hands and say ‘Namaste’ while the Japanese would bow and say ‘Hajime mashite.’ They would then look for similar interests to create relational identities. Hence, similar points of interests would include Buddhism, food, forms of art, etc. This would then lead to both the participants reshaping their thoughts and ideas so as to accommodate the other.

Thus, Identity Management Theory considers cultural and relational identities as the determinant factor in creating identities while communicating. Face work is considered the essence of communication which requires not only practice but also knowledge about other cultures and thought processes.

{ 2 comments… add one }
  • Ibukun March 19, 2019, 5:00 pm

    Weldon! This is a well nice job.
    Meanwhile, this work has dung deep into particular cultures of in the world. So what happens to some cultures where to pass across a message to the elders, as it is in African Cultures, you must not look their faces.
    in other words, you must bow your head, which implies that your face expression does not matter.

  • Khaled Alyami January 15, 2020, 9:34 pm

    Cool.
    Thank you

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