A03

• * practical application?

  • research has highlighted that VR are good for peple who would normally use gated mechanisms in real world - shy/social anxiety/stutter
  • can be used as therapy for those people with these difficulties in order to create friendships & romantic rs to build their confidence & social skills that they can use in real world & enable happier life
  • has helped people in real world form successful romantic rs & through use of self disclosure people can also improve chance of making face to face connections as well as online
  • so theory is accurate
• X use of questionnaires?

  • pro - efficient method of gathering info on VR as many people can complete research at same time & gain large sample size
  • con - suffer from social desirability - p may lie about having intimate rs online/feel uncomfortable discussing it in questionnaire
  • although lots of rich & detailed data can be collected from this research may be inaccurate & based on false info regarding formation & maintenace of VR & extent to which they are desirable
• X leads to pressure on people?

  • with increase in use of internet & social media research shows that disclosure is more prominent in these kinds of rs
  • leads to people feeling pressure to also disclose intimate details on internet especially those vulnerable - young teens - feel pressured to disclos likes/dislikes & may feel uncomfortable especially if being asked something inappropriate & about their emotional/sexual preferences
  • ? credible
  • has negative effect on people by making them feel uncomfortable & pressured into disclosure
  • leads them to pursue online rs they may not want to be in