Chapter 6: Expressing Emotions and Building Relationships Over Distance: Fixedness and Fictionalization in Correspondences

While the historical role of letters in the development of ideas and the growth of communities is not too controversial a concept (Bazerman, 1988; Collins, 1998), writing is held as an impoverished medium for the expression of deep and subtle emotions and for the development of relationships. In recent decades, the proliferation and ubiquity of new forms of written communication (such as email, online forums, text messages) have prompted vivid discussions of their advantages, limitations, and effects on relationships and the expression of emotions. As organizations become more distributed (e.g., DeSanctis & Monge, 1998) and email becomes a prevalent means of communication at work (Byron, 2008; Sarbaugh-Thompson & Feldman, 1998), these debates increase in importance.