virtual relationships

• self-disclosure in virtual relationships

  • more likely to self-disclosein cmc relationships as there is less embarassment
  • there's time to think about what to say
  • however: research on people being less likely to self-disclose due to risk of blackmailing/catfishing
• reduced-cue theory

  • argues that computer mediated communication is less effective than face to face
  • cmc lacks more cues as we normally depend on face to face
  • included non verbal cues like body language and emotion
  • lead to deindividuation because it reduces sense of individual identity
  • therefore: involve more blunt and aggressive communication, thus less likely to lead to self-disclosure
• hyperpersonal model

  • suggestd by walther
  • virtual relationships can be more personal and have greater self-disclosure than FTF
  • can feel more intimate/meaningful
  • more intimate: easier to manipulate or self-disclosure
• hyperpersonal mode : strangers on a train

  • others dont know your identity so you feek kess accountable for your behaviour
• Absence of gating

  • gate: obstacle to a formation and development of a relationship
  • eg: physcial unattractiveness, shyness, anxiety
  • mckenna and bargh suggested gates are absent in cmc
  • therefore: easier for relationships to form and become intimate on cmc
  • focus is self-disclosure rather than what they look like
• Advantages of gating:

  • reduced judgement
  • more emphasis on personality
  • give people a chance
  • some may be able to be themselves
• Disadvantages of gating:

  • may lead to tension when they do meet ftf
  • people may choose to present themselves a different age/gender/personality
• AO3 - strength of hyperpersonal model

  • research support
  • eg: model predicts that people are motivated to self-disclose in cmc relationships
  • researcher found that questions asked in online discussion tended to be very direct
  • this is different face to face as people may be moe mindful of what they say
  • therefore: increases validity and credibility of the ideas suggested by walther
• AO3 - strength of absence of gating for virtual relationships

  • research support
  • eg: studied cmc used to lonely + socially anxious people
  • found: these people were less able to express themselves online
  • 70% of cmc relationships were found to survive more than 2 years
  • lonliness + social anxiety: gate
  • therefore: credible sources
• AO3 - weakness of both

  • doesnt consider multi-modal relationships
  • online and offline