Gating

• What is gating in relationships?

  A feature/obstacle that could interfere with the development of a relationship
• What are some examples of relationship gates?

  • Attractiveness
  • Physical disability
  • Stammer
• What are some examples of relationship gates?

  • Attractiveness
  • Physical disability
  • Stammer
  • Shyness
  • Age
  • Ethnicity
• Why is there an Absence of Gating in CMC (virtual relationships)

  • Gates can remain hidden
• Why is there an Absence of Gating in CMC (virtual relationships)

  • Gates can remain hidden
  • This allows self disclosure and intimacy to develop
  • Then the gates may be revealed but because of the self disclosure it doesn't matter as much now
• What is Yurchisin et al (2005) study into gating in CMC?

  • Interviewed 11 online daters and found these individuals tended to give accounts of both their real and better selves in dating profiles to attract potential partners
  • Some even admitted they would steal another daters ideas or copy images to be more popular
  • Yurchisin did however find that most online identities were still close to the persons true identity in order t avoid unpleasant surprises in real life encounters
• Give one limitation of research into a sense of gating in CMC
• Give one limitation of research into a sense of gating in CMC

  • One of the main issues is that it hasn't considered the difference between males and females
  • Evolutionary Henry would state females would be concerned with making themselves more attractive and youthful whereas males would want to appear more resourceful
  • Gender differences prominent
  • This could make research in this area less valid and oversimplify how gates are used in virtual relationships