Interveners’ performance of “identity work” in the context of Chinese bystander intervention

Abstract

Abstract The present study examines a variety of “identity work” that interveners perform discursively in the context of Chinese bystander intervention, a communicative strategy underexplored in related literature. Analyzing data from 3 Chinese social observation TV shows, it showcases the varied categories of identity work performed and the discursive practices employed by the interveners. It demonstrates that identity work is a common device used by Chinese intervener to serve the purpose of intervention and that it is driven by their needs to seek interactional power, pursue social alignment and justify accusation. Hopefully, the present study could lend further support to the current conceptualization of identity as communicators’ resource to satisfy their communicative needs in Chinese social interaction.