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Virtual Relationships - Coggle Diagram
Virtual Relationships
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Absence of Gating
Gates are barriers that limit opportunities to from FtF relationships such as feeling shy or socially anxious.
In virtual relationships, these gates are removed so people find it easier to form relationships.
Personal factors such as mannerisms tend to determine who we approach and who we develop romantic relationships with. We use available features to categorise people before deciding whether we would like a relationship with them.
Evaluation
Tamir and Mitchell (2012) - biological basis for SD. Increased activity in two brain centres associated with reward when a person self-disclosed on Facebook.
Rosenfield and Thomas (2012) - virtual relationships can be as strong as in-person. There is no difference in quality between virtual and in person relationships.
Support for absence of gating - Zhao (2008) - online social networks can empower 'gated' individuals to present the identities they are unable to establish face to face. Online interactions also allow individuals to 'stretch the truth' to project a more desirable self.
Self-Disclosure
Reduce Cue Theory
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CMC relationships are less effective than FtF as they lack many of the cues we normally depend on including appearance, facial expression and tone of voice. Without these cues, this can lead to deindividuation as it reduces people's sense of identity, encouraging disinhibition in relating to others.
Virtual relationships more likely to involve blunt or aggressive communication which reinforces reluctancy to disclose meaningful information about yourself. The theory suggests someone would be unlikely to initiate a relationship with someone who is so impersonal.
Hyperpersonal Theory
Walther (1996,2011) - Self disclosure is higher.
As self disclosure in online relationships happens earlier, they quickly become more intense and feel more intimate and meaningful.
They can also end more quickly as it is difficult to sustain the same level of intense self-disclosure for a long time. Suggested that virtual relationships may feel more intimate because it is easier to manipulate self-disclosure online.