virtual relationships Flashcards
What are virtual relationships?
The term ‘virtual relationship’ encompasses a wide variety of electronic communication methods by which relationships are formed and maintained.
- psychologists have become more interested in online or virtual relationships especially in terms of communication.
What is self disclosure?
- Romantic partners reveal more about their true selves as their relationship develops.
- These self-disclosures about one’s deepest thoughts and feelings can strengthen a romantic bond when used appropriately.
What are the theories of self disclosure in virtual relationships?
- Reduced cues theory
- The hyperpersonal model
Who created the reduced cues theory?
Sproull and Kiesler
What is the reduced cues theory?
Argues that virtual relationships are less effective than FtF ones because they lack many of the non-verbal cues we depend on (tone, facial expressions etc)
- causes deindividuation (loss of identity)
- Many people feel freer to communicate in blunt and even aggressive ways.
- People unlikely to express real thoughts to someone so impersonal
Who created the hyperpersonal model?
Walther
What is the hyperpersonal model?
virtual relationships can be more personal and involve greater self-disclosure because virtual relationships develop quicker.
What are the two key features of the hyperpersonal model?
- Selective self-presentation - sender has greater control over what to disclose/ present themselves in an idealised way leading to either hyperhonesty or hyperdishonesty.
- The receiver gains a positive impression of the sender, and may give feedback (‘you’re cool’) that reinforces the selective self- presentation.
Who introduced the factor of anonymity into virtual relationships?
Bargh
What is anonymity
A factor that promotes online self-disclosure and makes virtual relationships hyperpersonal is anonymity.
- may well disclose more about yourself to a stranger because you feel less accountable for your behaviour if they don’t know you
What are gates?
Any obstacle to forming a relationship.
FtF interaction is gated, in that it involves many features that can interfere with the early development of a relationship (social anxiety, stammer, physical attractiveness)
What are benefits of gates being absent?
- individuals are free to be more like their ‘true selves’ (more so than in FtF interactions).
- self-disclosure becomes more frequent and deeper.
What are the drawbacks of gates being absent?
people can create untrue identities and deceive people in ways that they could never manage face to face.
What is a limitation of reduced cues in regards to lack of support?
P: One limitation of reduced cues theory is that non-verbal cues do exist online, they are just different
EE: Walther and Tidwell point out that online interactions use other cues. For example, timing of messages, acronyms, emoticons and emojis can all be used as effectives substitutes for facial expression and tone of voice.
L: Therefore, reduced cues theory is a limited explanation, as it doesn’t consider how virtual relationships can be just as personal as FtF ones.
What is a limitation of hyperpersonal model in regards to lack of support?
P: Findings from a meta-analysis challenge the hyperpersonal model.
EE: Ruppel et al (2017) carried out a meta-analysis of 25 studies. In the experimental studies, there was no significant difference between FtF and virtual relationships in terms of self-disclosure.
L: This contradicts the hyper-personal model’s view that virtual relationships lead to more and deeper self-disclosures than in FtF.
What is the research to support absence of gating?
P: There is research to support that shy, lonely and socially anxious people find virtual relationships especially valuable.
EE: McKenna and Bargh (2000) found that shy, lonely and socially anxious people were able to express their ‘true selves’ more online than FtF. 71% of relationships formed online by shy people survived at
least 2 years, compared to relationships formed FtF (49%)
L: This suggests that shy people benefit online. This is presumably because of the absence of gating.
