As my project continues to evolve, I’ve been exploring the ways in which gamers navigate the gap between their online and offline personas. Revisiting some literature, I have come to realize that Jung’s Identity Gap Theory offers a meaningful framework for understanding this phenomenon. Jung’s theory introduces the concept of the personal-enacted identity gap, which refers to the discrepancy between how individuals views themselves internally (their personal identity) and how they present themselves in communication (their enacted identity) (p. 6).
I think this concept applies well to the audience I’m targeting, as they often create avatars or online personas that allow them to express parts of their identity that they may not feel comfortable sharing in real life. In online environments, where stakes are lower and anonymity is possible, people can communicate with confidence and display social skills that seem to be inconsistent with their offline behavior. In these contexts, they enact an identity that is closer to their ideal self, a version of themselves that is confident, socially capable, and in control. However, offline, their behavior may reflect their actual self, which could be more influenced by social anxiety, self-consciousness, or a lack or confidence in face-to-face interactions.
The Role of Context in Identity Gaps
One of the key insights in Jung’s theory is that identity gaps are often context-dependent. I feel like this is highly relevant in the case of my audience, as the online environment provides a safe space where they can experiment with different social roles and identities, free from the pressures of real-world consequences or social judgements. They may experience a smaller gap between their personal and enacted identities online, as the digital space allows them to express parts of themselves that they would normally not show in offline situations.
When they transition to offline environments, the gap widens. Social pressures, heightened self-awareness, or anxiety may prevent gamers from enacting the same confident identity they express online. As a result, they might revert to more introverted or reserved behaviors, leading to a larger gap between their internal self-concept and how they interact with others in face-to-face situations. This could explain why some gamers may feel socially adept in online environments but withdrawn or anxious in offline settings, as their enacted identity does not fully align with their personal identity.
The Consequences of Identity Gaps
The consequences of this gap can be significant. Jung (2020) notes that a large gap between one’s personal and enacted identities can lead to negative outcomes, such as feeling misunderstood or experiencing communication dissatisfaction (p.9). For some gamers, this might explain why they might feel disconnected and/or frustrated when interacting offline, as their offline persona doesn’t fully represent who they are or what they are capable of.
Moreover, this identity gap can contribute to feelings of inauthenticity. Some might struggle with the fact that the confident, socially capable version of themselves that they project online seems inaccessible in offline situations. This disconnect can make worse issues like low self-esteem or even social anxiety, as they are unable to bring their online strengths into real-world interactions.
Identity Negotiation
According to Jung, reducing the identity gap requires a process known as identity negotiation. It involves actively finding ways to align one’s enacted identity more closely with their personal self-concept. Jung describes this process as dialectical because it is continuous, individuals will constantly work through the tension between how they see themselves and how they express themselves. Through repeated adjustments the aim is to reach a synthesis where their personal and enacted identities are more in harmony, and this process is always ongoing and always evolving.
For my audience, gamers who often feel more confident and socially adept online, the identity negotiation process would involve recognizing the strengths they display in online environments and learning how to apply those same strengths in offline situations. By being conscious of their online and offline differences, and adapting their online behaviors into offline settings, it should help to reduce the gap between their two identities.
However, through my research and initial testing, I discovered that many in my audience are reluctant with immediately practicing in offline environments, especially when it involves interacting with strangers. This presents a challenge that I will have to navigate.
I have been exploring the potential of using mental rehearsal as a way to guide my audience towards practicing their social skills in a more accessible way. It could be a way to visualize and mentally prepare for social interactions without immediately putting them into those situations, but I’m not sure how feasible this is yet, I need to look more into this.
References
Jung, E., 2020. Identity Gap: A Concept for Theorizing Communicative Aspects of Identity. Presented at the Annual Convention of National Communication Association. University of Southern Mississippi.