article

"Everyone Has to Do It: " A joint action approach to managing social inattention

Authors:

Jeremy Birnholtz,

Lindsay Reynolds,

Madeline E. Smith,

Jeff HancockAuthors Info & Claims

Computers in Human Behavior, Volume 29, Issue 6

Pages 2230 - 2238

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2013.05.004

Published: 01 November 2013 Publication History

Abstract

In an always-connected world, managing social inattention - that is, explaining the inability to interact at a particular time - can be as important as coordinating mutual availability. Inattention, particularly if repeated, can have significant relational consequences as it may be considered rude and can lead to painful social outcomes. Prior research has examined the butler lie, one strategy commonly used to manage social inattention while preserving relationships. This paper builds on that via an interview study of 47 participants that qualitatively examines perceptions of butler lies from both the senders' and receivers' perspectives. Participants see butler lies as a common and useful inattention management strategy, but these messages can have a negative effect receivers do not perceive the senders' intentions to be positive. Factors affecting the perception of intent include relationship strength and history, the stakes of the situation, and past behavior. The paper argues that inattention management should be considered a joint coordination problem characterized by a willingness to accept the pragmatic relational meaning of messages, which may differ from their literal semantic meaning. This hints at a collaborative view of deception, in which some interlocutors are aware they are being deceived and willing to accept deception.

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Cited By

Lee HChiang YChou YLin KChang Y(2023)What makes IM users (un)responsiveInternational Journal of Human-Computer Studies10.1016/j.ijhcs.2022.102983172:COnline publication date: 1-Apr-2023
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1016/j.ijhcs.2022.102983
Chou YChien YLin YLin KShih FChang Y(2022)Because I’m Restricted, 2 – 4 PM Unable to See Messages: Exploring Users’ Perceptions and Likely Practices around Exposing Attention Management Use on IM Online StatusProceedings of the 2022 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems10.1145/3491102.3517616(1-18)Online publication date: 29-Apr-2022
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3491102.3517616
Wohn DBirnholtz JBoring SRukzio EGellersen HHinckley K(2015)From Ambient to AdaptationProceedings of the 17th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction with Mobile Devices and Services10.1145/2785830.2785865(26-35)Online publication date: 24-Aug-2015
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/2785830.2785865
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"Everyone Has to Do It: " A joint action approach to managing social inattention
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Published In

cover image Computers in Human Behavior

Computers in Human Behavior Volume 29, Issue 6

November, 2013

701 pages

ISSN:0747-5632

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Copyright © Elsevier Ltd © 2013.

Publisher

Elsevier Science Publishers B. V.

Netherlands

Publication History

Published: 01 November 2013

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Cited By

Lee HChiang YChou YLin KChang Y(2023)What makes IM users (un)responsiveInternational Journal of Human-Computer Studies10.1016/j.ijhcs.2022.102983172:COnline publication date: 1-Apr-2023
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1016/j.ijhcs.2022.102983
Chou YChien YLin YLin KShih FChang Y(2022)Because I’m Restricted, 2 – 4 PM Unable to See Messages: Exploring Users’ Perceptions and Likely Practices around Exposing Attention Management Use on IM Online StatusProceedings of the 2022 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems10.1145/3491102.3517616(1-18)Online publication date: 29-Apr-2022
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3491102.3517616
Wohn DBirnholtz JBoring SRukzio EGellersen HHinckley K(2015)From Ambient to AdaptationProceedings of the 17th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction with Mobile Devices and Services10.1145/2785830.2785865(26-35)Online publication date: 24-Aug-2015
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/2785830.2785865
Birnholtz JGergle DLiebman NSinclair SBoring SRukzio EGellersen HHinckley K(2015)Feeling AwareProceedings of the 17th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction with Mobile Devices and Services10.1145/2785830.2785857(16-25)Online publication date: 24-Aug-2015
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/2785830.2785857
French MSmith MBirnholtz JHancock JBegole BKim JInkpen KWoo W(2015)Is This How We (All) Do It?Proceedings of the 33rd Annual ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems10.1145/2702123.2702368(4079-4082)Online publication date: 18-Apr-2015
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/2702123.2702368
Pielot MChurch Kde Oliveira RQuigley ADiamond SIrani PSubramanian S(2014)An in-situ study of mobile phone notificationsProceedings of the 16th international conference on Human-computer interaction with mobile devices & services10.1145/2628363.2628364(233-242)Online publication date: 23-Sep-2014
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/2628363.2628364

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