Virtual Relationships Flashcards
Self-Disclosure
Relationships develop when we disclose personal and emotional information to a potential partner
In FTF Relationships we tend to disclose a breadth of information about a range of low risk topics which fit desired social norms about how we behave and only gradually increase personal and intimate information whennwe want to develop trust and intimacy, sending messages that we are attracted to the other person
Reduced cues theory
Sproull and Kiesler (1986)
Argue virtual relationships make self disclosure less likely because of the reduced cues such as non-verbal cues and our emotions which we use in FTF relationships are missing and therefore unavailable to help up relate to others
As such we become deindividuated which leads to disinhibition
This can make cmc appear blunt or aggressive and so we are unlikely to reveal personal information and consequently someone is less likely to want to form a relationship with us
Hyperpersonal model
Walther 2011
Argues greater anonymity of virtual relationships means individuals may disclose more intimate information more quickly as there is less risk of being socially embarrassed as these online partners are less likely to reveal the information to our friends and family
CMC gives an individual greater control of what to disclose and when to do so meaning they can offer a selective self presentation whereby they only disclose information which presents them in a positive and idealised way
As such virtual relationships can develop very quickly due to high degree of self-disclosure and become very intense and intimate
This may mean they also end very quickly (Boom and Bust phenomenon) because the high excitement of the interaction may not be matched by the developing trust which occurs alongside self-disclosure in traditional relationships
Strength reduced cues
Supporting research
Mesch and Talmund 2006
In a study of 987 Israeli teenagers, they knew their online friends for shorter lengths of times, participated in fewer activities and perceived them to be less close to them than those friends from ftf relationships
Shows that reduced cues in virtual relationships means people are less likely to want to form a meaningful relationship with those they interact with online and so make less self-disclosures
Limit reduced cues
Evidence against
Walther and tidwell 1995
Pointed out that
Cues are still present in cmc as the time of messages and use of emoticons can indicate the amount of thought and emotions a person is trying to convey
In this way virtual relationships may not have reduced cues or less disclosures than ftf relationships, it is just that the form they take are different
Strength hyperpersonal model
Supporting evidence
Whitty and Joinson 2009
Who found cmc tended to be very direct, probing and intimate with a view of presenting ourselves in am exaggeratedly positive light, compared to a more general small talk made in ftf communication
This shows that the greater anonymity of cmc allows for more intimate self-disclosure whilst the greater control we have in cmc enbales us to selectively self present these disclosures in a way that makes us seem more desirable
Hyperpersonal strength 2
Lundren 2001
Found in a study of 80 chat users, 28% admitted to misrepresenting their physical appearance, 23% their age and 18% background
This again shows that virtual relationships may lead to disclosures but they may not be completely true
Absence of gating
Gate in the formation of a relationship is anything which prevents a relationship from forming
Ftf relationships may not develop because such gates are obvious but mckenna and bargh (1999) point out that in virtual relationships these, often superficial, gates are absent meaning the relationship is more likely to be based on meaningful factors such as shared interests and attitudes
Gating Strength
Supporting evidence
Mckenna 2002
Found participants liked a partner more and made more intimate disclosures when they interacted with them via chat room than face to face despite not knowing they were the same person
Suggests that gating factors such as physical attraction or social awkwardness in ftf interactions may limit the intimacy of communication
Gating strength 2
Schouten 2007
found those with anxiety made more disclosures in CMC due to its lack of non-verbal gates
this shows that absence of gates means some people can socialise better online, leading to the development of more intimate relationships
General limit
Research into virtual relationships may be inappropriately simplistic
because it unfairly explains the nature of virtual relationships in simple terms
this is because Paine (2006) notes users of Facebook disclose more than those that use online webforms with self-disclosure on dating sites being more limited due to anticipation of meeting
attraction could also be affected by form of disclosure as feelings different to sexting
this means that it is important that theories and research into virtual relationships must recognise how the effect of CMC on self-disclosure and how it removes gates will be affected by the type of media used
General strength
Has practical applications
which is when studies can be used to help individuals in real life relationships
this is because as virtual relationships allow people to communicate without traditional gates, those with social anxieties tend to be more likely to use it. This can work as a form of therapy to practice their social skills to increase their confidence in FTF communication
this means that it could be used as a form of therapy to practice their social skills to increase their confidence when talking in person
