AO3: Relationships

Question 1

Virtual Relationships: Research to support the claim that levels of self-disclosure increase in virtual relationships

Answer 1

• E: In 2009, Whitty and Joinsons did research and found the questions people asked each other on online forums were more intimate and probing than questions asked in FTF interactions
• E: This shows levels of self-disclosure are increases in computer mediated communications (CMC) as people are not only disclosing but also asking for high risk information than in FTF relationships. This challenges reduced cues theory as it shows that a more blunt approach of communication in CMC can lead to self disclosure rather than withholding information like the theory suggests. Additionally the strong ecological validity of the study since the researchers studied real virtual communications strengthens the claim as the research can be generalised to real life situations of self-disclosure in CMC. Possible explanations of this increased self-disclosure could be that the anonymity of the internet allows people to be more fearless in disclosing and seeking out high risk information or that people have more time to think about their responses to paint themselves in a positive light

Question 2

Virtual Relationships: Research suggests the absence of gating in virtual relationships is advantageous for shy people

Answer 2

• E: Using a questionnaire, Baker and Oswald found that participants who were rated as high on shyness and internet use were more likely to rate the quality of their online friendships as high. This correlation wasn’t present for those rated as having low shyness
• E: This suggests that shy people are able to overcome the impacts of gating if they make greater use of CMC. This shows the value of research into the role of gating in virtual relationships as it could result in professionals working with people with social anxiety on how to form romantic relationships. However the support this research provides should be looked at with caution as it is correlational research. This is because correlation doesn’t always equal causation so it could be that increased internet use caused a greater quality in online friendships or it could be that a greater quality in online friendships causes increased internet use as people will want to spend more time online with their friends

Question 3

Virtual Relationships: Research into virtual relationships is socially sensitive

Answer 3

• E: According to Sieber and Stanley, research is socially sensitive if it has the potential for social consequences. They claimed one of these social consequences was the potential to cause stress about the possibility of revelations to do with a person’s private life
  -E:

Question 4

Parasocial Relationships: A methodological issues with studies into parasocial relationships is that they use self-report methods

Answer 4

• E: For example methods like questionnaires and interviews are normally used to study parasocial relationships
• E: This is as issue because these methods might not reflect the true picture. This is because the participants’ responses may be tainted by social desirability bias. This is when participants answer questions in a way that paints themselves in a good light rather than answering truthfully. This would be prominent in studies on parasocial relationships as participants might feel embarrassed by their behaviour. The thoughts, feeling, and behaviours of those with parasocial relationships might not match the findings of the studies that used self-report methods.

Question 5

Parasocial Relationships: There is research support for the absorption-addiction explanation for parasocial relationships and the absorption-addiction model

Answer 5

• E: In 2005 Maltby did research and found that women who reported to having an intense-personal relationship with a female celebrity whose body shape they admired were also more likely to have a poor body image themselves
• E: This supports the absorption-addiction model as it shows that those with a lack of fulfilment in there lives (in this case referring to lack of a desired body image) become absorbed with someone else who has what they desire (in this case it’s a celebrity whose body they admire) which is what the model says. However the findings of this study are a correlation and correlation ≠ causation. One reason is that the direction of causation is unclear. It could be that poor body image results in an intense personal relationship with a celebrity but it could equally be that an intense-personal relationship with a celebrity can result in poor body image. So the study doesn’t really show that fulfilment is the cause of parasocial relationships as the absorption-addiction model says

Question 6

Parasocial Relationships: There is research support for attachment theory’s explanation for parasocial relationships and the absorption addiction model

Answer 6

• E: In 1997 Kienlen did research on stalkers and found 63% of participants experienced the loss of a caregiver in their childhood and 50% experienced physical or emotional abuse
• E: This supports attachment theory as it shows that a negative attachment with a caregiver in early years can result in a borderline pathological parasocial relationship which is in line with the theory. Moreover this research provides support for absorption-addiction theory as it shows that negative childhood experiences cause lasting mental damage, leading to a lack of fulfilment which is resolved by the formation of a parasocial relationship by absorption and then addiction