RELATIONSHIPS - virtual relationships in social media

Question 1

what is a crucial feature of FtF (face-to-face) relationships?

Answer 1

self-disclosure

Question 2

what are the two theories that explain self-disclosure in virtual relationships?

Answer 2

Reduced cues theory and The hyperpersonal model

Question 3

who proposed the reduced cues theory?

Answer 3

Sproull and Kiesler (1986)

Question 4

explain the reduced cues theory?

Answer 4

virtual relationships are less effective than FtF ones because they lack many of the cues we normally depend on. eg. physical appearance, facial expression, tone of voice = de -individuation

Question 5

who proposed the hyperpersonal model?

Answer 5

Walther (1996,2011) = argues that virtual relationships can involve greater self-disclosure than FtF ones.
= virtual relationship can develop very quickly

Question 6

what are the two key features of the hyper personal model?

Answer 6

1. SELECTIVE SELF-PRESENTATION= sender manipulates self image to present themselves in an idealised way. Self disclosure could be intensively truthful/false.
2. receiver gains a positive impression of the sender and responds in a way that reinforces the senders selective self-presentation.

Question 7

what is absence of gating?

Answer 7

The idea that virtual relationships are less likely to be affected by physical or non-verbal cues, such as attractiveness or body language.

Question 8

what are the benefits of absence of gating?

Answer 8

• virtual relationships can develop to a point where SD is more frequent and deeper
• refocuses attention on SD rather than other distracting features
• individual is freed to be more like themselves

Question 9

what are the drawbacks of absence of gating?

Answer 9

• there is scope for people to create untrue identities and deceive people
  -people can create any kind of avatar to represent themselves in a virtual reality.

Question 10

give strengths of research into virtual relationships in social media?

Answer 10

+ support for absence gating = McKenna and Bargh (2000) = found that shy =,lonely, anxious people were able to express themselves in online communication more than FtF situations = 71% online relationships lasted two years. = shy ppl benefit online due to the gating that obstructs FtF relationships.

Question 11

give limitations of research into virtual relationships in social media?

Answer 11

• lack of support for reduced cues = online nonverbal cues are different rather than absent =

Walther + Tidwell = acronyms, emojis can be used as effective substitutes for facial expressions and tone of voice = this is hard for reduced cues thoery to explain because it means the virtual relationships can be as personal as FtF ones

• lack of support for the hyperpersonal model
  Ruppel et al = meta analysis study compared SD in FtF + virtual relationships = experimental studies showed that there was no significant difference between FtF and Virtual in terms of SD = contradicts the hyperpersonal models view.

COUNTERPOINT (strength):
- Whitty and Joinson = evidence showing how self-presentation is manipulated in virtual relationships. self presentation can also be hyper-dishonest eg. inventing attractive personal qualities. = supports the models claim about hyperhonest/dishonest self-disclosures.