Virtual relationships in social media

Question 1

Reduced cues theory (Sproull/Kiesler)

Answer 1

V relationships LESS effective:
-Lacks non-verbal cues
-ppl lose personal identity= disinhibition, can communicate in aggressive/blunt ways

So unlikely to express personal thoughts and feelings to someone who is so impersonal

Question 2

Hyperpersonal model (Walther)

Answer 2

V relationships + personal/self-disclosure
-Develop quickly as self-disclosure happens earlier

Question 3

According to the hyperpersonal why are virtual relationships more effective?

Answer 3

Sender of message has more control over what to self-disclose- selective self-presentation

Receiver gains positive image/sends positive feedback

Anonymity= feel less accountable so disclose more

Question 4

Who came up with the reduced cues theory

Answer 4

Sproull/Kiesler (1986)

Question 5

Who came up with the hyperpersonal model

Answer 5

Walther

Question 6

What is a gate

Answer 6

Mckenna/Bargh said any obstacle in forming relationship (e.g social anxiety)

Question 7

Are face to face interactions gated?

Answer 7

YES

Question 8

Why does absence of gates= + self-disclosure in virtual relationships

Answer 8

Refocuses attention on self-disclosure and away from superficial and distracting features

Can be more truthful

Question 9

Drawback of absence of gates

Answer 9

Can be dishonest about identity

Question 10

Weakness of reduced cues theory

Answer 10

Online nonverbal cues different not absent
-e.g Tidwell/Walther found use other cues (e.g style/timing of message/emojis) so there are also subtle nuances in virtual relationships

So virtual relationships can be just as personal as face to face

Question 11

Weakness of hyperpersonal model

Answer 11

Lack of support
-e.g Ruppel meta-analysis: self-report studies= better self-disclosure in FtF relationships/experimental studies found no significant difference

Contradicts hyperpersonal model’s view that virtual relationships have more/better quality self-disclosure than face-to-face

Question 12

Support for absence of gating

Answer 12

Socially anxious ppl find virtual relationships especially valuable
-e.g Bargh/Mckenna found they expressed their true selves online
-71% of relationships formed initially online lasted at least 2 years but only 49% that were formed FtF

Suggests shy ppl do benefit online presumably because the gating that obstructs FtF relationships is absent

Question 13

Counterargument to lack of support for hyperpersonal model

Answer 13

Some evidence that virtual/FtF relationships do differ in type of self-disclosure used
-e.g Johnson/Whitty found questions in online discussion more direct/intimate (hyperhonest) than FtF with small talk

This supports the model’s claims that SD is different in FtF/Virtual relationships

Question 14

What % of relationships lasted at least 2 years that were started online by socially anxious ppl

Answer 14

71%

Question 15

What % of relationships lasted at least 2 years that were started face to face by socially anxious ppl

Answer 15

49%