Are We Becoming Socially Impaired? Computer-Mediated Communication, Human Evolution, and Social Capital

Abstract

We review the literatures on human evolution, organizational communication, and CMC, focusing on research addressing CMC support for the transmission of socio-emotional signals, Theory of Mind (ToM), and social capital. We develop a social capital theory of communication in organizations, linking the use of CMC for the transmission of socio-emotional signals with one's ability to develop social capital, where ToM is proposed as a major mediator.