Addiction: virtual r/ships

Question 1

Outline reduced cues theory

Answer 1

Sproul and Kiesler suggest that virtual r/ships are less effective than F to F ones because they lack many cues we usually depend on, therefore we disclose less. These involve non-verbal cu4es such as physical appearance and tone of voice. Without these it can lead to deindividuation because it reduces people’s sense of identity. VR are therefore more likely to involve blunt or aggressive communication. People are therefore reluctant to reveal any meaningful info about themselves. Unlikely to initiate an r/ship as its too impersonal

Question 2

Outline the hyperpersonal model

Answer 2

Walther argues VR can be more personal because disclousure happens earlie because of absence of touch and affection. But, it also means r/ships can end more quickly because of the high excitement of interactions is not matched with trust between partners.
Cooper and sportalari called this the boom and bust phenomena.

A key feature of VR is that the sender of the message has more time to manipulate their message than they would in a face to face scenario.
Walther calls this selective self-presentation. People online have more control over what they say and what cues to sen. This means its much easier to manipulate self-disclosure to promote intimacy in VR, by self presenting in an idealised way.