Parasocial Relationships

• Self-disclosure in virtual relationships.


  According to Sproull and Kiesler (1986), virtual relationships are less effective than FtF ones as they ack many cues such as tone of voice and body language. This reduces peoples sense of identity, leading to disinhibitation. Many people then feel freer to commnicate their thoughts and opinions, wether they are aggressive or intimate.
• Explain the Hyperpersonal Model.


  Explained by Walther (1996 - 2011). He argues that virtual relationships can invove greater self-disclosure than FtF ones as they develop much quicker.

  There are two keyfeatures of Hyperpersonal self-discosre.

  1. The sender has greater control over what to discose and howthey disclose it compared to in FtF relationships.The sender can also manipulate their identity and self-image through honest and false self-diclosure.

  2. The receiver gains positive impression of the sender, they may give feedback that reinforces the senders selective self-persona.