Virtual relationships in social media Flashcards
how does self disclosure operate in virtual relationships?
reduced cues theory
the hyperpersonal model
what is reduced cues theory?
Sproull and Kiesler suggest virtual relationships are a lot less effective then FtF ones as they lack nonverbal cues such as physical appearance, cues to our emotional state (e.g. facial expressions, tone of voice). Reduces a persons sense of identity (de-individuation) which leads to disinhibition. People are less likely to express true thoughts when it is so impersonal
what is the hyperpersonal model?
Walther argues virtual relationships can be more personal and have more self-disclosure as it may develop earlier.
1. The sender of the message has greater control over what to disclose and what cues they send. Selective self-presentation is when they manipulate their self-image making them present in an idealised way. self-disclosures can be hyperhonest and/or hyperdishonest
2. The receiver gains a positive impression of the sender reinforcing the senders selective self-presentation.
What is another factor which promotes self-disclosure virtually?
Bargh et al- Anonymity, you feel less accountable for your behaviour you may disclose more to your partner. anonymity makes virtual relationships hyperpersonal
What is a gate?
Mckenna and Bargh- a gate is any obstacle to forming a relationship. If FtF interaction is gated, in that many features interfere the early development of the relationship. E.g. physical unattractiveness, a stammer, social anxiety (shyness, blushing etc)
What are the benefits and drawbacks of a gate?
Benefits: in virtual relationships most of these gates are absent, self-disclosures become more frequent and deeper helping relationships develop more quickly compared to FtF. individual free to be their true self,
Drawback: there is scope to create untrue identities, a person can change age or gender and deceive people in ways they could never manage FtF
evaluation of virtual relationships in social media (brief)
weakness - lack of support for reduced cues
weakness - lack of support for hyperpersonal model HOWEVER type of self-disclosures differ
strength - support for absence of gating
weaknesses of virtual relationships in social media
a limitation of reduced cues theory is that online nonverbal cues are different rather than absent. Walther and Tidwell point out that people in online relationships use other cues such as style and timing of messages. there are nuances in virtual relationships that are just as subtle as in FtF relationships. Acronyms, emoticons and emojis can all be used as effective substitutes for facial expressions and tone of voice. this is hard for reduced cues theory to explain because it means virtual relationships can be just as personal as FtF ones.
Hyperpersonal model is challenged by findings of metanalysis. Ruppel et al carried out meta-analysis of 25 studies that compared self-disclosures in FtF and virtual interactions. Found that self-report studies showed that the frequency, breadth and depth of self disclosures was greater in FtF relations. whereas experimental studies showed no significant differences between FtF and virtual relationships in terms of self-disclosure. This contradicts model’s view that the greater intimacy of virtual relationships should lead to more and deeper self-disclosures than in FtF relationships. However, there’s evidence that FtF and virtual relationships differ in type of self-disclosures used. Whitty and Joinson summarise evidence showing how self-presentation in manipulated in virtual relationships. Questions asked online tend to be direct and intimate whereas FtF conversations often feature small talk. self-presentation online can be hyperdishonest. this supports the model’s claims about hyperhonest and hyperdishonest self-disclosures showing that there are differences between FtF and virtual relationships.
strength of virtual relationships in social media
there is support for absence of gating, McKenna and Bargh (2000) looked at online communication by shy, lonely and socially anxious people. They found that these people were able to express their true selves more than in FtF situations. Of romantic relationships formed by shy people online, 71% survived at least two years compared to 49% formed in the offline world. This suggests shy people do benefit online presumably because the gating that obstructs FtF relationships is absent online.
