Relationships - 4. Virtual Relationships in Social Media: 2. Effects of Absence of Gating on Virtual Relationships

Question 1

FtF relationship

Answer 1

Face to face relationship

Question 2

CMC relationship

Answer 2

Computer mediated conversation relationship

Question 3

Gate

Answer 3

A feature/obstacle that could interfere with the development of a FtF relationship

Question 4

2 types of gates

Answer 4

Physical (E.g. weight or disfigurement)
Personality trait (E.g. shyness)

Question 5

How is gating different from FtF to CMC relationships?

Answer 5

Online you can overcome the obstacles (E.g. the individual won’t know you have a particular feature if they are only talking to you online)
FtF interactions display more gates than virtual relationships
Features/obstacles absent in CMC relationships

Question 6

Who studied the absence of gating in virtual relationships?

Answer 6

McKenna and Bargh (1999)

Question 7

What do virtual relationships refocus attention on and away from?

Answer 7

Refocuses attention on self-disclosure and away from superficial distractions

Question 8

What did McKenna and Bargh study?

Answer 8

Studied CMC use by lonely and socially anxious people

Question 9

Findings of McKenna and Bargh

Answer 9

People were able to express their true selves more than in FtF situations
Of the romantic relationships formed online, 70% lasted more than 2 years, which is higher than for real world formations