Relationships Flashcards
What are virtual relationships
Relationship that are conducted through the internet instead of face to face
What is self disclosure
When a person reveals intimate details about themselves to another person
How does self disclosure differ in virtual relationships
- People present an edited version of themselves over social media
- Levels of self disclosure will vary based on whether it is a public or private presentation
- Greater confidence to disclose on the internet due to ‘anonymity and ‘strangers on a train’ effect
What are gates (Gating)
Barriers that limit the opportunity for the less attractive, shy or less socially skilled to form relationships in face to face interactions
How is gating absent in virtual relationships
Barriers for less attractive individuals are removed by the anonymity of virtual encounters
What did Zhao et al. (2008) find
Found that online social networks such as facebook can empower ‘gated’ individuals to prevent identities that they hope to establish but are unable to in face to face interactions
What did Yurchisin et al. (2005) conclude about online relationships
Online environment allows individuals to project a more socially desirable identity than they would face to face.
What research did Yurchisin et al. (2005) perform
Interviewed 11 online daters and found that these individuals gave accounts of both real and better versions of themselves in dating profiles. Some admitted to stealing others ideas and pictures to be more popular.
Evaluation for Yurchisin et al. (2005) research
Small sample size
Very high mundane realism
Who did research into the importance of the internet for romantic relationships (Evaluation)
Rosenfield and Thomas (2012)
What did Rosenfield and Thomas (2012) find (Evaluation)
Of 4000 individuals, 71.8% who had internet at home had a spouse or romantic partner whereas only 35.9% without internet access had a partner.
Who did research into the quality of internet relationships (Evaluation)
Rosenfield and Thomas
Who claimed that internet relationships were of lower quality than face to face relationships (Evaluation)
Putnam (2000)
What did Rosenfield and Thomas find regarding the quality of internet relationships (Evaluation)
No difference in the quality of internet relationships compared with offline relationships
Who found a biological basis for self disclosure on facebook (Evaluation)
Tamir and Mitchell
