VIRTUAL RELATIONSHIPS

Question 1

what is CMC?

Answer 1

computer-mediated communication, encompasses wide variety of electronic communication methods, where relationships can be formed or maintained

Question 2

define self-disclosure

Answer 2

involves sharing personal info - thoughts, dreams, fears, goals, preferences so it is an important way to strengthen relationships and build trust

Question 3

why would someone self-disclose more online?

Answer 3

anonymity
don’t know friends
time to think about what to say
less embarrassment

Question 4

why would someone self-disclose less online?

Answer 4

worry of blackmailing/trolling/catfishing

Question 5

what two theories are there of self disclosure in CMC?

Answer 5

1. reduced cues theory

2. hyperpersonal model

Question 6

what is reduced cues theory?

Answer 6

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

Question 7

what does reduced cues theory lead to?

Answer 7

de-individuation reduces people’s sense of individual identity, encourages disinhibition in relating to others, cant get sense of true identity

Question 8

therefore, reduced cues theory says CMC relationships are more likely to….

Answer 8

involve blunt and agg communication, conseq of this is reluctance to self-disc, unlikely to initiate a relationship

Question 9

hyperpersonal model was made by…

Answer 9

Walther who says CMC relationships are more personal and have greater SD than F2F, as SD happens earlier and more established and intimate

Question 10

hyperpersonal model found a phenomenon called…

Answer 10

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

Question 11

what is selective self-presentation in hyperpersonal model?

Answer 11

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

Question 12

what other aspect of CMC promotes SD?

Answer 12

anonymity as when you know that ppl don’t know identity, more likely to self-disclose more about yourself to stranger

Question 13

what is gating?

Answer 13

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

Question 14

benefits and drawbacks of gating

Answer 14

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

Question 15

3 eval points for virtual relationships

Answer 15

+ research support for the hyperpersonal model
+ support for the absence of gating
- lack of research for reduced cues

Question 16

research for the hyperpersonal model

Answer 16

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

Question 17

support for the absence of gating

Answer 17

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

Question 18

lack of research for reduced cues theory

Answer 18

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