virtual relationships in social media Flashcards
background of virtual relationships
- One major form of social change over the last 30 years has been the development of virtual relationships.
- Since about 2000, the primary use of any home computers has been for social interaction.
- Relationships can start online via dating sites and move to face to face format.
- Many relationships operate simultaneously online and face to face.
- Some relationships operate exclusively online (e.g. online gamers, those that meet in chat rooms for specific purposes).
A01- Self - Disclosure
- The general idea is that in online relationships, because of the freedom of anonymity, we self-disclose much more rapidly and much more freely. (The hyperpersonal model, Walther, 2011)
- Psychologists predict that this means relationships can end more quickly once the face to face interaction begins because the level of trust does not match the nature of the self-disclosure (Boom and Bust phenomenon).
- Another reason why we find self-disclosure so much easier in virtual relationships is that the information we reveal is unlikely to reach anyone else.
- Our virtual partner has no way of “outing” us to anyone else in our REAL social network (social network that’s not online)- so we are free to disclose without fear of further consequences socially (“stranger on a train” phenomenon.
Selective Self-Presentation (AO1 self disclosure)
- On sites such as facebook we are very careful over what we disclose (e.g. our status)
- Where we have little control over the audience we exert MORE control over the level of self-disclosure
what is the AO3 point for self disclosure (virtual relationships)
Biological Basis for Self-Disclosure
- Tamir and Mitchell (2012) put pps through an MRI scanner whilst they were interviewed about themselves (self-disclosed) or others.
- They found increased MRI activity in two brain centres that are associated with reward (nucleus accumbens, ventral tegmental area) when answering questions about themselves
- These findings suggest that self-disclosure online may be linked to the biological rewards we experience when we self-disclose.
A01- Absence of Gating
- Gating refers to any potential barrier that would get in the way of two people forming a relationship face to face (anxiety, physical unattractiveness, physical distance). - virtual relationships do not have these constraints
- A huge advantage of virtual relationships is, then, the ABSENCE of gating.
- This enables self-disclosure to happen faster, more frequently, and deeper.
- Absence of gating works by refocusing attention on self-disclosure and diverting it away from any other distracting features (e.g. physical appearance- online, I am more interested in what you SAY than what you LOOK LIKE)
- “The Voice” analogy
- Absence of gating does, however, mean that people are free to create online identities that they would never manage face to face. They can be whoever they want to be!… (dangerous!)
A03- Research Support McKenna (Absence of Gating)
- McKenna (2002) carried out an experimental study on the absence of gating.
- 31 male and 31 female uni students were randomly paired.
- Half met online first for a first “date”, with a follow up date face to face
- The other half had their first and their second date face to face
- All pps were then asked how much they liked each other on a 14 point scale (+7 to -7)
- Liking was significantly stronger when the pairs met online first.
- This supports the idea that the absence of gating PROMOTES self-disclosure and therefore increases attraction.
A03- Further Support: McKenna and Bargh (Absence of Gating)
- McKenna and Bargh (2000) found that lonely and socially anxious people felt more-able to express their “true- selves” in virtual relationships than in real life.
- Of the relationships that initially formed online, 70% survived more than two years, a much higher proportion than those formed face to face.
- This totally supports the theory that the absence of gating has promoted self-disclosure and improved the quality and durability of the relationship.
A03- Generalising from these theories is UNSCIENTIFIC (Absence of Gating)
- A HUGE issue with this idea of “virtual relationships” is that we are nomothetically (generate laws for lots of people) attempting to apply these theories to any relationship formed online.
- This is ridiculous.
- The nature of “virtual relationships” varies so vastly from one relationship to another that this is vastly unscientific and any application has limited validity.
A03- Temporal Validity (Absence of Gating)
- These theories were created BEFORE apps such as Tinder and Grindr etc existed- with the majority taking place before the year 2000.
- The way we interact with people over such apps is completely different to the technologies (basic online chat rooms) which were the inspiration for the theories outlined here.
- Now relationships can START online- some begin anonymously, some begin precisely BECAUSE the gates have NOT been removed (Tinder allows you to SWIPE AWAY people you don’t like the look of but know NOTHING about)
- Some relationships STAY online and some only become acquainted online then move to real life instantly.
AO3 Zhao (2008) (Absence of Gating)
Proposed that the absence of gating allows individuals to create their own identity offline which can enhance their self-esteem and improve their chances of connecting with others in the real world.
