Lesson 9 - Self-Disclosure in Virtual Relationships Flashcards
Difference between face to face and virtual relationships
One prominent difference between face-to-face and virtual relationships is the fact that self-disclosure tends to occur much faster in virtual relationships.
Reason for faster self disclosure
One reason for this is the anonymity associated with virtual relationships;
people tend to hold off disclosing personal information in real life for fear of
ridicule or rejection, unless they are confident that they can trust the person
and that information won’t be leaked to mutual friends. However, there is much less risk of this in virtual relationships.
What is the Hyperpersonal Model
Walther (2011) proposed the hyperpersonal model of virtual relationships,
suggesting that, as self-disclosure in virtual relationships happens faster than
in face-to-face ones, virtual relationships quickly become more intense and feel more intimate and meaningful. They can also end more quickly, however, as it is difficult to sustain the same level of intense self-disclosure for a long time.
Why do virtual relationships feel more intimate
Walther (2011) also suggests that virtual relationships may feel more intimate
because it is easier to manipulate self-disclosure online than face-to-face.
Participants in online conversations have more time to edit their responses to
present themselves in a more positive light; Walther (2011) calls this selective
self-presentation. Projecting a positive image will make a virtual partner want
to disclose more personal information, increasing the intensity of the
relationship.
Strengths of the Hyperpersonal Model
Whitty and Joinson (2009) conducted research which clearly demonstrates
the effect of being online on self-disclosure. They discovered that in online
discussion forums both questions and answers tend to be more direct, probing and intimate than in everyday face-to-face interactions, as the hyperpersonal model would predict.
Weaknesses of the Hyperpersonal Model
Research has found that relationships which begin online are more durable
than other relationships, rather than ending more quickly as the hyperpersonal model suggests. This is because of more open self-disclosure early on in the relationship (McKenna and Bargh, 2000).
Self-disclosure varies depending on the online context. People disclose more
on gaming sites than they do on dating websites because the latter is more
likely to lead to face-to-face encounters in the future.
Why might self disclosure in virtual relationships be less honest
Spoull and Kiesler (1986) suggested that self-disclosure in virtual relationships
might be LESS open and honest than face-to-face ones. In real life we rely on a lot of subtle cues, such as facial expressions and tone of voice, which are absent in virtual relationships.
What is Reduced Cue Theory
According to reduced cue theory, reduction in non-verbal communication leads to deindividuation because it diminishes people’s feelings of individual identity and brings on behaviours that people usually restrain themselves from displaying, such as aggression. This may make online communications more aggressive, and the consequence of this is less self-disclosure from other people, as they fear verbal aggression.
Strengths of Reduced Cue Theory
Null
Weaknesses of Reduced Cue Theory
Reduced cue theory was developed when social media lacked face-to-face
interaction, meaning they were much less rich in non-verbal communication than real life interactions. However, advanced technology allows for live interaction, which is much more similar to real life interactions.
Non-verbal communication is not absent from virtual relationships, the cues are just different, e.g. emoticons are used as substitutes for facial expression
and intonation. The timing of responses is also an important form of non-verbal communication (Walther and Tidwell 1995).
