Virtual Relationships

Question 1

What are gates in terms of relationships?

Answer 1

barriers that limit opportunities for less desirable, shy, or less socially skilled people when forming relationships in face to face encounters.

Question 2

What is a virtual relationship?

Answer 2

A relationship conducted through the internet rather than face to face.

Question 3

What are the different types of virtual relationship?

Answer 3

1. Relationships that start online then develop into face to face relationships.
2. Relationships that operate simultaneously online and in person.
3. Relationships that are purely online

Question 4

Who developed the reduced cues theory?

Answer 4

Sprout and Kiesler (1989)

Question 5

What is the fundamental belief of the reduced cues theory?

Answer 5

Virtual relationships lack cues that are present in face to face relationships.
e.g. facial expressions, tone of voice, emotional state
Makes people more likely to be blunt and aggressive in communication and less likely to self-disclose because the relationship is impersonal.

Question 6

What did Sproull and Kiesler say about de-individuation?

Answer 6

It reduces people’s sense of individual identity. More likely in virtual relationships.

Question 7

What did the reduced cues theory say about disinhibition?

Answer 7

In virtual relationships people may have an inability to withhold or suppress inappropriate or unwanted behaviour.
e.g. socially inappropriate comments or also extreme intimacy

Question 8

Who developed the hyper personal model?

Answer 8

Joseph Walther(1996,2011)

Question 9

What is the fundamental belief of the hyper personal model?

Answer 9

Online relationships are more personal and involve more self disclosure.

Question 10

Why does the hyperpersonal model say that virtual relationships are more intimate?

Answer 10

Sender has more time to manipulate their online image. (selective self presentation)
More control over disclosure and the cues they send
Easier to manipulate self disclosure to promote intimacy

Question 11

What did John Bagh (2002) say about anonymity in virtual relationshipsv

Answer 11

makes individuals feel less accountable for their behaviour.

Question 12

What is the stranger on a train effect?

Answer 12

When you are aware that people are unaware of your identity, you feel less accountable for your behaviour so may disclose more.

Question 13

What is the boom and bust phenomenon?

Answer 13

Cooper and Sportolari (1997)
Virtual relationships can be more intimate but may also end more quickly because the high excitement level isn’t matched by the level of trust between the partners.

Question 14

What is meant by absence of gating in virtual relationships?

Answer 14

Refocuses attention to self-disclosure and away from superficial and distracting features.
People are also free to create online identities eg. a man to a woman, introvert to extrovert.

Question 15

Is there research to support the reduced cues theory?

Answer 15

No. Research has shown that the nonverbal cues are different rather than absent.
Emoji’s for emotions and tone of voice, acrostics (LOL), taking time to respond.
Reduced cues theory cannot explain the success of online communications. Virtual communication can be just as personal as face to face.

Question 16

Is there research to support the hyperpersonal model? X

Answer 16

Whitty and Johnson (2009)
questions asked in online interactions tend to be direct, probing and intimate.
Different from ftf interactions that are hedged around small talk.
Responses are also more direct
Supports central assertion of model. The way we present ourselves in CMC relationships is exaggeratedly positive to promote relationship formation.

Question 17

How can types of virtual relationship be used as evaluation?

Answer 17

On social media people are interacting with people they most likely know. (facebook)
Disclose more than on e-commerce websites
People are less likely to self disclose on dating websites because they anticipate a ftf meeting in the future. This doesn’t exist in chat rooms or gaming sites.
Theories that approach virtual relationships as a single concept neglect the richness and variety. Therefore not valid explanation.

Question 18

Is there research support for the absence of gating?

Answer 18

Mckenna and Bargh (2000)
CMC by lonely and socially anxious people.
They were able to express their true selves more than in ftf situations
70% of romantic relationships formed lasted more than 2 years which is higher proportion than in offline world.