virtual and parasocial rship Flashcards
reduced cues theory in SD OF VR
suggest less SD in VR
- sproull + kiesler suggest that VR are less effective than FTF - lack many cues we normally depend on in FTF interactions = disclose less (non verbal cues - physical appearance and lack of cues to our emotional state - tone of voice/ facial expressions)
- w/o some cues leads to de-individualisation (loss of self identity) - encourages disinhibition to others
- VRs therefore more likely to involve blunt + aggressive communication = more reluctant to disclose meaningful info about yourself - unlikely to initiate a rship with someone who is impersonal.
hyperpersonal model of SD in VR
suggests more SD in VR
- WALTHER , VRs can be more personal + involve greater disclosure than FTF ones
- VR can develop quicky since disclosure happens earlier (absence of physical touch) + one established there are more intense + intimate
BUT also means rship could end quicker - high excitement levels not matched by level of trust in rship (COOPER + SPORTOLORI = boom bust phenomenon)
positive EV for SD in VR
EVIDENCE - whitty + jhonson when researching online discussions they found that the questions tended to be very direct + probing - wouldn’t be asked in a FTF meeting as it would be seen as ‘going too far’ (tend to have small talk)
- found that poeple had no issue in answering personal questions online + were direct to the point with answers
= support hyperpersonal model
Practical Applications - especially for people with social anxiety - SCHOUTEN - people with social anxiety experienced higher online disclosure - absence of non verbal cues they typically struggle with
- found that such people were able to express their ‘true selves’ more than in FTF situations
- 70% of online rships formed online survived more than 2 years (stood the test of time)
= VR may benefit many indvs
negative EV for SD in VR
cultural differences in SD in VR - YIM + HARA found that
- american pts reported of greater SD online led to greater trust
- korean pts suggested greater SD online led to less trust
- japanese pts thought SD was irrelevant
= SD in VRs isn’t a general nomothetic law but influenced by cultural factors
what are the effects of absence of gating in VRs
communicating online removes number of factors that act as filters in FTF encounters
(physical attractiveness, age)
- during dates , these deficiencies might ‘block off’ some people from progressing further with their date
- in VR these gates don’t initially exist to some extent
MCKENNA + BARGH - absence of cues is huge adv in VR - rship can develop to a point where SD becomes more frequent + deeper rather than focusing on fickle aspects of rship formation
= allows an online rship to ‘get off the ground’
- refocusing attention on SD + away from what one might consider superficial
what is meant by a parasocial rship
when an indv will believe they are in an rship with someone of higher status (celebrity)
- usually w/o a celebrity’s knowleldge - ‘hero/celebrity worship’
-individual tends to come across the media personality in TV/film- think of seeing these people on TV as an actual physical experience with them
- may feel they understand the TV personality more than everyone else
- start off on a basis of friendship - proceed in physical attraction and sexual desire
what are the 3 levels parasocial rships (w/o explanation)
entertainment- social subscale
intense- personal subscale
borderline- pathological subscale
what is entertainment- social subscale?
GILES + MALTBY - most people engage in parasocial rships at some point in their lives
- celebrities seen as a source of entertainment + topic for light-hearted gossip with friends
- LEAST INTENSE level of celebrity worship
what is intense - personal subscale
deeper level of parasocial rships
- at a rship with a celebrity
- may see them as a soulmate + have an intense interest in the celebrity’s personal life (dress sense, food they like)
- typical for teenagers who seem to be obsessed with every detail of their favourite celebrity’s lifestyle
what is bordeline pathological subscale?
most intense level of PRS rships
- person takes celebrity worship to an extreme, has obsessive fantasies about them, spends large sums of money to obtain memorabilia - may engage in illegal activities (stalking)
- they believe that if they were given the chance to meet their fav celebrity irl, feelings would be reciprocated
what is the absorption - addiction model of parasocial rships
by McCUTCHEON explains the tendency to form PSRs in terms of deficiencies people have in their own lives - suggests a trigger can lead to more intense PSR
- allows them to escape from reality / a way of finding fulfilment that they can’t achieve in their actual rships
ABSORPTION - they want to ‘absorb’ their success - seeking fulfilment in celebrity motivates indv to become preoccupied + identify with them
- gives a ‘feel good’ factor
ADDICTION - indv needs more intense involvement to sustain commitment to a rship
- could lead to extreme behaviours like stalking them, delusional thinking (convincing themselves they are in a rship - sexual relations = lost touch with reality)
- this may require some from of psychotherapy, especially when having delusionary beliefs
some form of crisis/ stressful event to move from Absorption to Addiction
summarise the absorption addiction model
someone who initially has an entertainment - social orientation to a certain celebrity may be triggered into more intense involvement by some personal crisis
hence, absorbed becomes ADDICTION
- PSR rship makes up for a deficiency in people’s lives
positive EV PSR
evidence
MALTY - idvs in the entertainment- social category were mentally healthy - makes sense as the majority of teenagers who experience this go on to be healthy
HOWEVER, those it higher categories has poor mental + physical health
= support for A-A model shows ‘deficiencies’ in people’s lives are linked to intense PSR
cultural influences - PSR are cross cultural (SCHMID + KLIMMT) report that this tendency is not culture specific
- using an online questionnaire methodology they found that similar levels of PSR attachments to harry potter in an individualistic culture (Germany) and a collectivist culture (Mexico)
= PSR are culturally free
negative EV A-A model in PSR
neglects that PSR can be functional
- some cases where people have lost an attachment figure (parental death) they can seek comfort in PSR - if done harmless way this can provide much needed relief
= A-A model of PSR encounter issues when applied to ‘some’ real life cases
positives EV for absence of gating in VRs
research to support the absence of gates in VRs
BARGH - intimacy developed quicker in VRs compared to physical rships - lack of gating features
McKENNA - removal of gating features in VRs allowed disadvantaged people (lacking social skills) to enter rship
= intimacy develops quicker in VRs beucase there are less barriers putting people off
