Virtual Relationships

• What does theory propose?

  Communicating online. People in VR tend to disclose more than FTF relationships
• What did Rubin propose?

  Strangers on train theory

  • We are likely to disclose more personal information with a stranger because we are likely to never see them again
• First difference between VR and FTF relationship

  Self disclosure & Hyperpersonal Model (Walther)

  • Self disclosure happens earlier in VR because you can share information w/o fear of being ridiculed
  • People can manipulate online identity to display different versions of themselves.
  • Positive image makes partner want to disclose more
• Second difference between VR and FTF relationship

  Reduced cues theory

  ---> Sproull and Kiesler

  • VR are less open and intimate than FTF as computers lack things such as facial expressions, tone of voice

  This leads to:

  • Deindividuation - result of reduction of feelings of responsibility as individual can say things online they would never say FTF.
  • They feel anonymous - may see trolling or sexting
• Third difference between VR and FTF relationship

  Absence of gating

  • FTF our attraction to others is influenced by things such as appearance, age, height, ethnicity
  • VR these barriers 'gates' are absent as you move past superficial information and move onto disclosing personal information
  • Introvert may be an extrovert online
• Strength of VR

  Empirical evidence

  • Smith & Duggan - survey with 2000 pps. People gave reasons for VR. 53% was for meeting those with similar hobbies. 60% for similar beliefs and values. Suggests VR helps overcome gates
  • Rosenfeld and Thomas - 4000 pps. Found 71.8% of those with internet access were married/had partner compared to 35.9% without internet access. Suggest virtual environment helps create and maintain relationship

  ---> scientific body of evidence by providing measurable and replicable findings that support VR.
• Limitation of VR

  Temporal validity

  • Most research was done in late 1900s/early 2000s.
  • Technology has changed and advanced meaning findings could be different if tested today
  • E.g. video technology invalidates absence of gates and reduced cues theory
  • Findings cannot be applied to current VR
• Limitation of VR

  Difficulty in measuring self disclosure

  • This is subjective to different people
  • Everyone's perception of what self disclosure is different
  • Making it hard to quantify
  • Reduces external validity
• Limitation of VR

  Overreliance on self report

  • Its subject to bias
  • Pps may overestimate/ underestimate their level of self disclosure due to social desirability or lack of self awareness
  • Leading inaccurate responses
  • Lacks validity, difficult to generalise findings meaning it weakens conclusions drawn from study