Virtual relationships in social media Flashcards
Self-disclosure
Revealing personal information about yourself and partners reveal more as relationship develops. Self-disclosure about deepest thoughts and feelings can strengthen romantic bond when used appropriately.
Absence of gating
FtF relationships often fail to form due to face disfigurements that might be off-putting. These barriers or gates are absent in CMC allowing relationships to form that wouldn’t in offline world.
Reduced cues theory
Sproull and Kielser say CMC relationships are less effective as lack cues we depend on in FtF such as physical appearance. Also emotional like facial expressions. De-individuation occurs which encourages dishibitation in relating to others. Blunt and aggressive so cannot disclose.
The hyperpersonal model
Walther argues online relationships can be more personal and involve greater self-disclosure than FtF as CMC relationships develop quicker as self-disclosure happens earlier. Can manipulate self-image as can control cues. Also there is anonymity so feel less accountable for behaviour so can disclose.
Evaluation: Lack of research support for reduced cues theory
Theory is wrong to suggest nonverbal cues are entirely missing from CMC as different rather than absent. Walther and Tidwell point people use other cues, such as style and typing of message. Emojis can be used as facial cues and tone of voice in FtF interactions.
Evaluation: Research support for hyperpersonal model
Whitty and Johnson summarise wealth of evidence showing people motivated to self-disclose in CMC which is sometimes ‘hyperhonest’ or ‘hyperdishonest’. Online questions are probing and intimate- supports model
Evaluation: Types of CMC
Extent of self-disclosure online depends on type of CMC and nature of relationship.
Evaluation: Relationships are multimodal
Walther argues any theory wanting to explain CMC including self-disclosure needs to accommodate fact that our relationships are generally conducted online and offline. Is a central characteristic of modern relationships, what we choose to disclose online will be influenced by offline interactions and vice versa.
Evaluation: Support for absence of gating
McKenna and Bargh looked at CMC use by lonely and anxious people. Found were able to express themselves more than in FtF. 70% of the relationships formed online that were from CMC surived more than 2 years.
