Feeling ambivalent while using instant messaging: a value-motive-experience framework comparing maximizers and social groomers

AbstractAdopting a person-centered approach, this article identifies different types of instant messaging (IM) users based on their underlying usage motives (social, hedonistic, and utilitarian) as maximizers, social groomers, entertainment seekers, or minimalists. It also explores users’ value priorities as determinants of this classification. Focusing on the social experiences of two types of users who actively employ IM for social purposes (maximizers and social groomers), this study extends the stimulation hypothesis. Whereas stimulation effects emerge for social groomers, whose social experiences on IM are overwhelmingly positive, they do not arise for maximizers, whose IM social experiences are more ambivalent. Maximizers’ more ambivalent social experiences significantly predict lower relationship satisfaction.Keywords: instant messagingsmartphonemotivessocial experiencesvalues Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Additional informationFundingThis work was supported by National Science Council in Taiwan.Notes on contributorsChingching ChangChingching Chang (Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison) is a Distinguished Research Fellow at Academia Sinica in Taiwan. She has been recognized as one of the World’s 2% Scientists in 2019, 2020, and 2021. With an emphasis on media psychology, consumer psychology, and media effects, she has contributed to various esteemed journals and is committed to advancing knowledge in diverse communication domains.