Virtual Relationships In Social Media (relationships)

Question 1

What is Reduced Cues Theory? (Less Disclosure)

Answer 1

Sproull and Kiesler - suggested that Virtual Relationships are less effective than Face to Face ones as they lack nonverbal cues, such as appearance, emotional cues (facial expressions + tone of voice)
-> Reducing a persons sense of identify (deindividualization), in turn leading to disinhibition.

This then may encourage individuals to self disclose in aggressive/blunt ways, due to the lack of nonverbal cues, meaning that individuals are therefore less likely/reluctant to self disclose in Computer Mediated Communication due to impersonality.

Question 2

What is the Hyper Personal Model Theory? (More Disclosure)

Answer 2

Walther - suggested Virtual Relationships may be more personal as self disclosure happens earlier + is more intimate and intense.
-> Due to the sender of a message having greater control over what they disclose, (selective self-presentation), the sender may manipulate their self image through hyper-honesty or hyper-dishonesty to present themselves in an ideal way -> the receiver will then gain a positive image of the sender and reinforce this self-presentation, e.g. ‘you sound like a happy person.’

Bargh et al- also suggested that anonymity presented less accountability

Question 3

What is a gate?

Answer 3

McKenna and Bargh- A feature/obstacle that may interfere with development of a relationship
-> Face to Face interactions are gated, such as physical unattractiveness, social anxiety, stammer, etc.

Virtual Relationships have an absence of gating

Question 4

What are the benefits of the absence of gating?

Answer 4

Suggested that Computer Mediated Communication (Virtual) relationships may develop faster to where self disclosure is more frequent and deeper.
-> Virtual Relationship may ‘get off the ground’ faster in comparison to Face to Face.

Helps to refocus attention on self-disclosure rather than on distracting features that may become a gate.

Individuals may also be freed to act like their true selves.

Question 5

What are the drawbacks of an absence of gating?

Answer 5

Individuals may create untrue identities of themselves, which may deceive people in ways that could not occur in Face to Face relationships.

E.g. A person may change their gender, age, become more extroverted

Question 6

Strengths:

Answer 6

+ Research Support for the absence of gating - McKenna and Bargh, found socially anxious, lonely, shy individuals were able to express their ‘true selves’ virtually more than in F to F.
-> Found 71% of relationships virtually survived at least 2 years in comparison to socially anxious individuals Face to Face relationships lasting only 49% of the time.
-> Highlighting how shy people may benefit from absence of gating.

+ Research Support for the Hyperpersonal Model - Whitty and Joinson, researched online discussions and found that discussions tended to be direct, probing and intimate (hyperhonest) , which is different from Face to Face interactions which often feature ‘small talk.’ Furthermore, hyperdishonesty can be seen where individuals invent ‘attractive personal qualities’ about themselves which are untrue.
-> Therefore, supports claims that hyperhonesty + hyperdishonesty exists and also shows differences from Face to Face relationships.

Question 7

Limitations:

Answer 7

• Lack of Support for Reduced Cues - Walther and Tidwell, suggest that people using Computer Mediated Communication do use cues, e.g. style/timing of messages, for example taking time to reply to a message = more intimate, but taking too much time = depicted as a snub.
  Furthermore, acronyms (LOL) and emojis may be cues for facial expressions + tone of voice.
  -> Therefore, makes it difficult for reduced cues theory to explain as there may be virtual cues which can help strengthen relationships similarly to F to F.
• Lack of support for Hyperpersonal model - Ruppel et al, meta-analysed 25 studies that compared self disclosure in F to F and virtual relationships.
  Self report studies = found frequency, breadth and depth of self disclosure were greater in Face to Face.
  Experimental studies = found no distinct difference.
  -> Contradicting hyperpersonal model as it shows there is no greater intimacy in virtual relationships