Relationships: topic 9 ‘virtual relationships’ Flashcards
(11 cards)
why do researchers suggest that virtual relationships may differ from face-to-face relationships?
- researchers suggest these virtual relationships may differ from face-to-face relationships in different ways, including in terms of self disclosure and the ‘absence of gating’
what is self disclosure?
- refers to the revealing of personal information about oneself to another individual
- psychologists are interested in determining whether this differs between virtual relationships and face-to-face relationships
why do psychologists suggest self disclosure differs in virtual relationships compared to face-to-face relationships?
- because there is greater anonymity online and less fear of ridicule or rejection that might occur when self disclosing face-to-face
- as a result self disclosure may happen earlier online and be more intense on intimate
what is the result of self disclosure occurring more quickly in online relationships?
- this means that relationships can develop an end more quickly online, because the high excitement level of the interaction isn’t matched by the level of trust between the partners involved
what is the boom and bust phenomenon of virtual relationships?
- when the high excitement level of the interaction isn’t much by the level of trust between partners involved in an online relationship
what is the hyperpersonal model? what does it suggest?
- according to the hyper personal model, a key feature of self disclosure in virtual relationships is that the sender of a message has more time to manipulate their online image, what to disclose and when, which would not happen in a face-to-face situation
who proposed the ‘selective self presentation’ and what is it?
- walther’s ‘selective self presentation’ explains the process of online relationships giving partners more time to manipulate their online presentation of themselves, which makes it easier to promote intimacy
what is ‘gating’?
- Gating refers to any barrier or obstacle to the formation of a relationship such as physical unattractiveness, a stammer and social anxiety (eg shyness, and blushing) which can’t interfere with face-to-face interactions
why is the absence of gating a huge advantage of virtual relationships?
- because barriers to relationship formation are not present which may allow our relationship to ‘ get off the ground ‘ in a way that is less likely to happen face-to-face
- this is because it refocus attention on self disclosure (eg what you tell me) and away from perhaps more superficial and distancing features (eg what do you look and sound like)
- this means a relationship can develop to the point self disclosure becomes more frequent and deeper
strengths of virtual relationships
P - support for the idea that virtual relationships involve greater self disclosure than face-to-face ones comes from whitty and joinson
E/E - they analysed a large number of research findings and concluded that questions in online discussions tend to be very direct and intimate with direct responses given, which is quite different from face-to-face discussions which are often revolved around small talk
L - this is positive as it supports central claim of the hyper personal model that we self disclose more online to present ourselves in an exaggeratedly positive light to aid relationship formation
P - support for the role of an absence of gating in virtual relationships comes from mckenna
E/E - found that lonely and socially anxious people were more able to express their true thoughts than in face-to-face relationships. furthermore, in the romantic relationships that formed online, 70% survived more than two years which is a higher success rate than those formed in the offline world
L - this is positive as it supports the idea that an absence of gating can help develop successful relationships in a way that is less likely to happen face-to-face
P - it is argued that an absence of gating can have wider benefits to people in the off-line world as well
E/E - zhao claimed that when certain people are more able to express their true selves online, this may enhance their overall self image and as a result increase their chances of connecting to others in their offline world
L - this is positive as it suggests certain features of virtual relationships can benefit face-to-face relationships
limitations of virtual relationships
P - critics argue it may be wrong to see virtual relationships as distinct from off-line ones
E - walter argued that theorists should acknowledge the fact that modern relationships are most usually conducted both online and off-line through many different media
E - therefore what we choose to disclose in our online relationship relationships will inevitably be influenced by our off-line interactions, and vice versa
L - this is a problem as it may be overly simplistic to assume relationships must be either virtual or off-line
P - there are cultural differences which can mediate the effect of social media on relationships
E/E - yum and hara found that American participant reported that greater self disclosure in virtual relationships with associated with more trust, while Korean participants reported greater self disclosure led to less trust, and in Japan self disclosure was not a factor in in trust at all
L - this suggests that the effect of disclosure on virtual relationships is mediated by cultural factors, which the hyperpersonal model cannot account for
