ABSTRACT
The communication theory of identity (CTI) conceptualizes communication as identity. The CTI asserts that identity exists in four interconnected frames: the personal, enacted, relational and communal. The personal–enacted identity gap was first operationalized and tested by Eura Jung and Michael Hecht. Their goals were to conceptually define, operationalize, and test personal–enacted and personal–relational identity gaps to add analytic potential to CTI by further conceptualizing the notion of interpenetration of layers. They hypothesized that the two identity gaps would be distinct constructs, and related to communication outcomes since identity gaps are a communicative phenomenon. The personal–enacted identity gap has also been found to mediate the effect of intercultural communication competence on the level of depression for Korean immigrants and had stronger effects than the personal–relational identity gaps and to mediate the effect of acculturation and discrimination on depression for international students.
