PsychNology Journal, Volume 5, Number 1, 33 - 57

Texters not Talkers: Phone Call Aversion among Mobile Phone Users

Ruth Rettie 
Business School, Kingston University, UK

Abstract
This paper argues that there are two types of mobile phone user. The study focused on the interactional experience of mobile phone calls and text messages. The research involved 32 UK mobile phone users and included extended interviews, 24-hour communication diaries, mobile  phone  bills  and  an  analysis  of  text  messages.  The  sample  was  evenly  divided between men and women, and between two age bands, 21 - 34 years and over 35 years. In line  with  earlier  work  by  Reid  and  Reid  (2005a),  two  different  groups  emerged  from  the research: Talkers, who prefer talking on the phone, but use text messages as a convenient complementary medium, and Texters, who are uncomfortable on the phone and prefer to send text messages. The paper explains the distinction between the two groups in terms of phone aversion, and relates this to difficulties in the presentation of self. For those who are phone averse, SMS is a ground-breaking technology, providing the remote social connection that they cannot enjoy in phone calls.

Keywords: mobile phone, cell phone, text messages, SMS, phone aversion.

Cite as: 
Rettie R. (2007). Texters not Talkers: Phone Call Aversion among Mobile Phone Users. PsychNology Journal, 5(1), 33 - 57. Retrieved [month] [day], [year], from www.psychnology.org.

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