Lesson 10 - virtual relationships

Question 1

self disclosure in virtual vs face-to-face relationships

Answer 1

• speed of self disclosure
• impact of rejection
• likelihood of self disclosure occurring
• importance of physical attraction
• likelihood of seeing/ meeting the person again

Question 2

speed of self disclosure - self disclosure in virtual vs face-to-face relationships

Answer 2

virtual - high
face-to-face - low

Question 3

impact of rejection - self disclosure in virtual vs face-to-face relationships

Answer 3

virtual - low
face-to-face - high

Question 4

likelihood of self disclosure occurring - self disclosure in virtual vs face-to-face relationships

Answer 4

virtual - high
face-to-face - low

Question 5

likelihood of seeing/ meeting the person again - self disclosure in virtual vs face-to-face relationships

Answer 5

virtual - high
face-to-face - low

Question 6

importance of physical attraction - self disclosure in virtual vs face-to-face relationships

Answer 6

virtual - low
face-to-face - high

Question 7

reduced cues theory - self disclosure

Answer 7

• virtual relationships may lack cues that would be present in face to face relationships
• e.g. physical appearance, emotional states, facial expressions
• deindividuation may occur = reduced sense of responsibility
• disinhibition = people feel more comfortable saying negative or hurtful things that they wouldn’t say in real life
• virtual may involve more blunt + aggressive comments
  = lead to a reduction of self disclosure
  = feel uncomfortable revealing sensitive info

Question 8

ads of reduced cues theory

Answer 8

• online trolling
• shy/ anxious people

Question 9

catfish - disad of reduced cues theory

Answer 9

• there is more scope for relationships online to not be honest
• people can catfish each other, steal identities, lie about themselves or talk to inappropriate people
  = reduced cues theory can cause issues in a relationship
  = more scope for deception

Question 10

online trolling - ads of reduced cues theory

Answer 10

• great deal of research evidence to support
• show that disinhibition + deindividuation occur in real life
• lots of research to show that people go online + ‘troll’ others
  = send unpleasant messages that that wouldn’t say in real life, face-to-face

Question 11

shy/ anxious people - ads of reduced cues theory

Answer 11

• can be useful for shy or anxious people that find it hard to communicate w/ ppl face-to-face or directly
• theory is beneficial for those that use the computer to shield their looks, lack of social skills
  = they can self disclose + communicate w/ others by taking their time to type to reply when they feel comfortable
• compared to face to face which is instant