VIRTUAL RELATIONSHIPS Flashcards
what is CMC?
computer-mediated communication, encompasses wide variety of electronic communication methods, where relationships can be formed or maintained
define self-disclosure
involves sharing personal info - thoughts, dreams, fears, goals, preferences so it is an important way to strengthen relationships and build trust
why would someone self-disclose more online?
anonymity
don’t know friends
time to think about what to say
less embarrassment
why would someone self-disclose less online?
worry of blackmailing/trolling/catfishing
what two theories are there of self disclosure in CMC?
- reduced cues theory
2. hyperpersonal model
what is reduced cues theory?
CMC relationships are less effective than F2F as lack of nonverbal cues e.g. appearance, emotional state e.g. facial expression and tone of voice
what does reduced cues theory lead to?
de-individuation reduces people’s sense of individual identity, encourages disinhibition in relating to others, cant get sense of true identity
therefore, reduced cues theory says CMC relationships are more likely to….
involve blunt and agg communication, conseq of this is reluctance to self-disc, unlikely to initiate a relationship
hyperpersonal model was made by…
Walther who says CMC relationships are more personal and have greater SD than F2F, as SD happens earlier and more established and intimate
hyperpersonal model found a phenomenon called…
Cooper et al found boom and bust phenomenon of online relationships, relationships end more quickly due to high excitement level of interaction not matched by level of trust
what is selective self-presentation in hyperpersonal model?
people online have more control over what they self-disclose, more time to manipulate their online image than in F2F, much easier to manipulate it to promote intimacy in CMC relationships
what other aspect of CMC promotes SD?
anonymity as when you know that ppl don’t know identity, more likely to self-disclose more about yourself to stranger
what is gating?
McKenna and Bargh - a gate is any obstacle to forming a relationship
F2F interaction is gated as it involves many features that can interfere with early development of a relationship e.g. physical unattractiveness, facial disfiguration, stammer and social anxiety
benefits and drawbacks of gating
CMC relationships most gates are absent, develop to point where SD is more frequent then develop and deepen quicker
+ gates are absent so individual is free to be more like their true selves when compared to F2F interactions
- scope for people to create untrue identities and deceive people by changing their profile picture, name, age and gender, can’t do F2F
3 eval points for virtual relationships
+ research support for the hyperpersonal model
+ support for the absence of gating
- lack of research for reduced cues
research for the hyperpersonal model
P - there is research support for the hyperpersonal model
E - people motivated to ask ‘hyperhonest’/’hyperdishonest’ q’s that are direct, probing and intimate
E - shows difference between F2F interactions, where there is small talk, responses are direct and to the point
L- support the central assumptions of model, SD in CMC relationships to present ourselves in a positive light aiding relationship formation
support for the absence of gating
P - there is research support for the absence of gating
E - McKenna and Bargh looked at CMC use by lonely and socially anxious people
E - found that people were able to express their ‘true selves’ more than in F2F situations, out of romantic relationships formed online, 70%+ survived more than 2 years
L - increase validity and PA that absence of gating allows people to be their true selves
lack of research for reduced cues theory
P - theory is wrong to suggest that non-verbal cues are missing from CMC
E - research pointed out that ppl in online interactions use different cues e.g. take time to reply, acrostics e.g. LOL, effective substitutes for facial expressions and tone of voice
E - success of online communication difficult for reduced cues theory to explain, CMC interaction can be just as personal as F2F, possible to express emotion
L - decreased internal validity as there is substitute for cues
