Reconnecting with the Dead via Facebook: Examining Transcorporeal Communication as a Way to Maintain Relationships
Year: 2009
Type: article
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the grief-related communication on Facebook memorial group walls.Three research questions guided the study as I sought to deceased remained similar to the relationship and communication that they had with the deceased before he or she died.Wall analysis and interviews revealed that people posted messages to multiple audiences: the self, the deceased, group members and "lurkers."Due to the numerous audiences, the wall posts served various functions.These overarching objectives included grieving, maintaining relational continuity, giving or receiving social support, and Rubbernecking.Analysis of the walls and interviews also indicated that individuals utilized a unique form of communication, TcC, as they wrote messages to the deceased.This act raised theoretical questions about the nature of the communication.I posited a model of TcC and its components, including continued bonds, the deceased's presence, and the inner representation of the deceased.The study concludes with a discussion of its limitations and suggestions for future research.
Author: Jocelyn M. DeGroot
Institution: Ohio University
Language: English
Subfield: Anthropology
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W105312072