Virtual Relationships In Social Media Flashcards
Less sd - social media
Catfishing
Lack of personal cues
Edit messages
More sd - social media
Anonymity
More Time to think about response
2 opposing theories
Reduced cues theory (sproull + kiesler)
Sd is lower
The hyper personal model (Walther)
Sd is higher
Reduced cues theory
Sproull + kiesler
CMC (computer mediated communication) r less effective than ftf ones as lack many cues
Physical appearance, face expressions, tone of voice
Leads to de individuation as reduces people’s sense of individual identity encouraging disinhibition
Virtual rels - blunt + even agg communication
U r unlikely to initiate a rel with someone who is impersonal or reveal inter most feelings to them
The hyperpersonal model
Walther - online rel can be personal + involve greater sd
As cmc rels can quickly develop as sd happens earlier and once established = intimate
Can also end quick cause of high excitement level isn’t matched by level of trust
Walther - selective self presentation = having time to manipulate online image, control
So much easier to manipulate self disclosure to promote intimacy In v rels by self presenting in idealised way
Anonymity - feel less accountable
What is the boom-and-bust phenomenon?
Cooper + sportolari
V rels can end quick as high excitement level of interaction doesn’t match with level of trust
Strangers on a train - Bargh
When confederates disclosed intimate details of their lives to strangers, strangers self disclosed personal info back to the confederate
Won’t see them again
Info likely to remain confidential
Gates and examples
Feature/obstacle that could interfere with the development of a face to face relationship
Attractiveness, stammer, disability, age
Absence of gating in virtual relationships
People r free to create inline identities they could not do as easily in real life
These gates can remain hidden online
Allows sd + intimacy to develop with communication
Introvert could become an extrovert
Individuals stretch the truth to seem more desirable
Support for absence of gating
McKenna + Bargh found that socially anxious people feel they r able express themselves more in social media than ftf relationships + 70% of these survived more than 2 years which is longer than most rels ftf
Support - bargh
Train study
Lim - ruppel et al
Ma of 25 studies that compared sd in ftf and virtual interactions
Found self report studies showed mire breath an depth in ftf rels than virtual
Self report tho - sdb
Lim of reduces cues theory
Ther r online cues
Walther + Tidwell
We use emojis as subs facial expressions, capitals, shouting and timing of messages
