Relationships - virtual relationships in media Flashcards
what is the key question about virtual relationship?
how does self-discolsure operate?
what are the theories?
reduced cues theory
absence of gating
the hyperpersonal model
what did sproul and kiesler argue
- virtual relationships are less effective because they lack the necessary cues needed in FtF relationships
- this reduces a persons sense of individuality
- people are blunt and agressive on text
- people will not be interested in such an impersonal relationship
who proposed reduced cues theory
sproull and kiesler
what are the usual cues in a FtF relationship?
appearnece, facial expression/ tone of voice
what is it called when in a virtual relationship theeir indetity is reduced
de-individuation
who proposed hyperpersonal model?
walther
what did walther propose?
virtual relationships can offer more self-disclosure than FtF
why might virtual relationships be more personal
because self-discolsure happens quicker
theyre more intsense and intimate
what is the sender feature of hyperpersonal model?
1) the sender of a message has more control of what they disclose and the cues they give than in FtF situataions. this is self selective presentation. the sender manipulates tgemself to be their best self.
what ways might self-disclosure be
hyperhonest
hyperdishonest
the recievers feature of hyperpersonal model?
reciever gains positive imression of the sender
they may give feedback
that makes sender be more positive
how does anonymity aid hyperpersonal virtual relationships?
they feel hiddn behind the screen, the people online do not know your identity so ou feel less acountable for your behaviour. so you may share more than you would to anyone else.
what is a gate?
anything that gets in the way of forming relationships - shyness, attractiveness, social anxiety
benefits of absent gates in virtual relationships
-self-disclosure may be deeper because the relationship has less obsticales at the start (like shyness) that prevent you from being your true self.
-also creates more honest relationships because it is not about physical attraction
limitations of absence of gates in virtual relationships
- a person can completely change who theyre through an online persona.
- this is misleading, they may be so extraverted online but introvert onlince. this would mean the relationship isnt true at all.
who thought absence of gatting was critical for virtual relationships?
McKenna and Bargh
evaluate virtual relationship explanation
+ Whitty - hyper-personal model - found evidence of people being hyper-honest/hyper-dishonest.
+ McKenna and Bargh - gating - they found people with social anxiety could express their true self more acurattley in virtual relationships. 70% lasted 2 years. this means absence pf gating does lead to healthy virtual relationships.
- relationships are multi-model. Not just FtF or online, they include both. what we disclose online will be effected by our offline interactions not just anonaminty etc
- lack os research for reduced cues - there are other cues such as, time of replies, emojis etc.
what is disinhibition?
doing things that are not normal for your behaviour/ personality, losing a sense of oneself
what is self selective presentation?
you can manipulate your online image to be the best person you can be
general points that work for all theories
- individual differences, some relationships will owrk better online others wont, they cant explain this
- alternative explanation
- relationships are usually multi-model, how we act online and in person will influence how our relationship goes it is not easy to asses them independetly
what does de-individuation lead to?
disinhibition when relating to others.
because you lose a snese of identity u relate to things you dont need to
why do virtual relationships end quickly?
because the high levels of excitment does build a high level of trust so it crashes, this is boom and bust theory
summary a01 for hyperpersonal model
- wasther
- online relationships can last
- they have more intamacy and self disclosure because of self selective presentation
- hyperhonest-dishonest
- boom and bust
- anonymous
