Online Relationships (AQA A Level Psychology): Flashcards
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Define online relationships.
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Define online relationships.
Online relationships (ORs) are those that do not exist on a face-to-face (FtF) basis; social media allows them to exist alongside or as a substitute for a FtF relationship.
True or False?
Online self-disclosure follows the same social norms as face-to-face disclosure.
False.
The usual restrictions and social norms that govern self-disclosure are removed in online environments, so it takes on a whole new dimension.
What does reduced cues theory (Sproull and Kiesler, 1986) argue?
Online relationships are less effective than FtF ones because they lack the cues we depend on, particularly emotional cues such as facial expressions and tone of voice, as well as body language, gestures and paralanguage that guide and monitor conversation.
Define deindividuation in online relationships.
Deindividuation occurs when a person hides behind a screen name or avatar so that their identity is partly lost, which can lead to a lack of inhibition.
Why does reduced cues theory predict a reluctance to self-disclose online?
A lack of inhibition can make online communication blunt and even aggressive (as internet trolls show), and this impersonal nature means people are unlikely to reveal their innermost feelings to someone so impersonal.
What does the hyperpersonal model (Walther, 1996, 2011) suggest?
Online relationships can be more personal than FtF ones, with greater and earlier self-disclosure, a speeded-up version of the Social Penetration 'onion' model.
Bargh et al. (2002) point out that anonymity makes people feel less accountable, so they may disclose more to a stranger than to an intimate partner, known as the 'strangers on a ' effect.
Bargh et al. (2002) point out that anonymity makes people feel less accountable, so they may disclose more to a stranger than to an intimate partner, known as the 'strangers on a train' effect.
What is the 'boom and bust' phenomenon (Cooper and Sportolari, 1997)?
Online relationships develop very quickly because self-disclosure becomes intense and intimate early on, but they can also end more quickly, as the high excitement is not matched by the level of trust between partners.
Define selective self-presentation.
Selective self-presentation is presenting one's 'best self' in a highly edited version of reality; the sender has more time and control over what to disclose and which cues to send than FtF, making it easier to appear positive and idealised.
Define deception in online relationships.
Deception is intentionally providing false or misleading information; in ORs it often involves lying or exaggerating personal details to create a better impression or manipulate others.
What are common types of deception in online relationships?
Common types include:
physical attributes, e.g. age, height or weight
photographs, e.g. old or heavily edited images
personality traits, e.g. exaggerating qualities or hiding flaws
relationship goals, e.g. pretending to want a serious relationship
What tactics are used in online scamming or catfishing?
Common tactics include claiming an emergency that requires money, pretending to be in the military or working abroad, and 'love bombing', using emotional manipulation to gain trust quickly.
Define gate in relationships.
A gate (McKenna and Bargh, 1999) is any obstacle or barrier to a relationship developing or getting off the ground, e.g. shyness, appearance, accent or anxiety in FtF interactions.
True or False?
Gates such as shyness and appearance are just as present online as face-to-face.
False.
These gates can be completely absent online, as people can hide behind avatars and the usual stressors of striking up a FtF conversation are removed.
How does the absence of gating work?
It refocuses attention on self-disclosure and away from superficial, distracting features, so online the interest is in what a person says rather than how they look or sound.
Who benefits most from the absence of gating?
People who previously isolated themselves from relationships due to fear, anxiety or self-consciousness gain opportunities to connect with others.
How does the absence of gating affect self-expression?
Its veil of anonymity encourages self-disclosure and allows people to express themselves in ways FtF encounters have not afforded them, e.g. creatively, honestly and adventurously.
Why can an online relationship succeed when it becomes face-to-face?
A lot has already been shared, and the superficial gates are gone, so each person sees the other as an individual rather than a set of characteristics such as 'blonde' or 'van driver'.
What did Bargh et al. (2002) find in their experiments with students?
In three experiments, those who felt they could express their 'true selves' online were more likely to form close and intimate online relationships.
What did Whitty and Joinson (2009) find?
Online self-disclosure can be both 'hyperhonest' and 'hyperdishonest', and questions asked online tend to be very direct, probing and intimate, unlike FtF conversations hedged with small talk.
What did Toma et al. (2008) find about online dating profiles?
Men tended to lie about being taller and women about their weight; online daters use strategic deception, small lies that make them look better but will not backfire at a future FtF meeting.
Why does the hyperpersonal model have some validity?
Evidence such as Whitty and Joinson's (2009) shows a lack of self-monitoring in the online world, as the model predicts.
What did Baker and Oswald (2010) find?
The absence of gating enables people with crippling shyness to open up and engage in fulfilling relationships, so ORs can be a lifeline for those previously marginalised.
How do Walther and Tidwell (1995) challenge reduced cues theory?
Online interactions have their own cues: emojis and acrostics such as LOL substitute for facial expressions and tone, and the timing of a reply carries meaning (too quick seems over-keen), nuances as subtle as those FtF.
Why might theories of online relationships not generalise across cultures?
They take a universal view, assuming people are connected and have internet access, which is not true everywhere, so they may not generalise beyond cultures with widespread internet access.
What does Walther (2011) argue any theory of online relationships must accommodate?
Relationships are generally conducted both online and offline through many media, and what we disclose online is influenced by offline interactions (and vice versa), so treating them as separate is unrealistic and challenges all three explanations.
Why might the nomothetic approach of online theories be a limitation?
Online disclosure is often idiographic, with vastly different levels of openness, honesty and risk-taking, so the theories cannot reflect the diversity of online behaviour.
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