Relationships booklet 4: Virtual relationships

Question 1

What is virtual relationships split into?

Answer 1

-Virtual relationship
-Self-disclosure in virtual relationship
-Absence of gating
-Research

Question 2

Explain virtual relationships AO1…

Answer 2

The internet and social media have become key factors in the relationships of many people in the modern world, involving both romantic relationships and friendships

Question 3

Explain self-disclosure in virtual relationships…

Answer 3

-Self-disclosure is gradually sharing personal info
-Virtual relationships have more self-disclosure due to anonymity, more likely to disclose personal info to strangers as less socially embarrassed
-Self-disclosure is also earlier, so might develop intimacy earlier, do not apply usual gating mechanisms that apply to FtoF

Question 4

Explain absence of gating…

Answer 4

-In a FtoF relationships there is gating that limits ability to form relationships if someone is physically unattractive
-However this gating is absent in a virtual relatinoships, meaning the relationships is likely to progress and intimacy is built through self-disclosure

Question 5

Explain research…

Answer 5

McKenna:
Put participants into two groups:
1. Interacted with a partner in person for 20 min on two real occasions
2. Other group interacted with a partner via an internet chat room for 20 min before meeting FtoF
Found that partners were more liked when they met via internet than face to face, because it seemed more intimate

Question 6

What are the evaluations of virtual relationships?

Answer 6

😀Practical application (social anxiety)
😀/😢Evidence from questionnaires: efficient/social desirability
😢May lead to pressure on people (vulnerable people may feel pressure to disclose online)