Self Disclosure in Virtual Relationships

Question 1

Hyper Personal Model (Walther)

Answer 1

CMC relationship are more personal and have greater self disclosure than FTF.

CMC relationships can develop very quickly as self disclosure happens earlier so they become more instense and intimate.

They can also end quicker because the underlying trust and knowledge of the other person is lacking.

Question 2

Reduced Cues Theory (Sproull and Kiesler)

Answer 2

Cues such as physical appearance or cue to our emotional state are lacking in CMC.

This can lead to a person loosing their identity and acting in a way they wouldn’t normally.

So often CMC involves aggressive and blunt communication which leads to a reluctance in self disclosure.

Question 3

Self-Disclosure Virtual Relationships

Answer 3

Jourard proposed the concept of broadcasting self disclosure to explain the difference between disclosure to romantic partner.

Individuals using social networks such as Facebook exercise different levels of self-disclosure depending on presenting information publically or privately.