Virtual relationships

• There's two opposing theories of self disclosure in social media:

  • Reduced cues theory Sproull and Kiesler (1986) = self disclosure is lower
  • The hyper personal model Walther (1996) = self disclosure is higher
• Describe the Hyper personal model Walther (1996)

  • CMC relationship are more personal and have greater disclosure than FtF
  • CMC relationships can develop very quickly as self disclosure happens earlier so they become more intense and intimate
  • They also can end quicker because the underlying trust and knowledge of the other person is lacking
• Describe the Reduced cues Theory Sproull and Kiesler (1986)

  • Cues such as physical appearance or cue to our emotional state are lacking in CMC
  • this can lead to a person losing their identity and acting in a way they wouldnt normally
  • So often CMC involves aggressive and blunt communication which leads to a reluctance in self disclosure