Human, smartphone and territories of the self

Lian Malai Madsen*, Andreas Candefors Stæhr

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Abstract

In this paper, we interrogate the applicability of Goffman’s theory on ‘territories of the self’ to study the relationship between human and the smartphone. We look into how a number of Copenhagen adolescents and their parents reflect on their everyday lives with smartphones. Our analytical framework is based on discursive psychology and positioning analysis. Through this framework we investigate the interpretative repertoires invoked by the participants in their small stories of their everyday life with smartphones and discuss how they relate to territorial concerns. Overall, the analysis suggests that the smartphone
creates new conditions for the territorial self as it involves an intersection of the possessional territory, the information and conversational preserves and to some extent the sheath.
Original languageEnglish
JournalLanguage and Communication
ISSN0271-5309
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2025

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