A Model of Social Eavesdropping in Communication Networks

Authors

  • Leila Bighash Department of Communication, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
  • Kristen S. Alexander Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
  • Christina S. Hagen Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
  • Andrea B. Hollingshead Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, Departments of Management and Organizations and Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA

Keywords:

surveillance, organizational communication, communication networks, uncertainty management, information gathering, privacy

Abstract

Social eavesdropping is the gathering of information from the interactions of 2 or more people, without their expressed knowledge or expressed permission, by a third party who is ostensibly not the target audience. Grounded in uncertainty management, communication networks, and signaling theories, this article presents a theoretical framework for understanding when and how individuals are likely to eavesdrop on the interactions of others. Social eavesdropping can be actively premeditated or passively incidental, the latter spurred by a serendipitous encounter. Propositions derived from the model investigate how accessibility, information value, and social risk influence the likelihood of social eavesdropping.

Author Biographies

Leila Bighash, Department of Communication, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

Assistant Professor of Communication

Kristen S. Alexander, Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA

Ph.D. student of Communication

Christina S. Hagen, Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA

Ph.D. candidate of Communication

Andrea B. Hollingshead, Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, Departments of Management and Organizations and Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA

Professor of Communication

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Published

2020-06-29

Issue

Vol. 14 (2020)

Section

Articles

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