9.4.1 Explaining Virtual Relationships

Overview of Virtual Relationships

Virtual relationships have become increasingly common with the rise of social networking sites like Twitter, making it easier to maintain interpersonal connections. However, there are distinct differences in how people conduct relationships face-to-face compared to virtually.

Self-Disclosure in Virtual Relationships

Self-disclosure involves revealing personal information to another person. In virtual relationships, anonymity allows individuals to share intimate details with less fear of social embarrassment if the information is leaked to people they know. This phenomenon is similar to Rubin's "strangers on a train" concept, where people are more likely to disclose personal information to a stranger who has no connection to their social circle. As a result, intimacy in virtual relationships can develop more quickly, as these relationships are often based on more meaningful factors rather than superficial ones like physical appearance.

Self-disclosure in virtual relationships also tends to reflect one's true self, leading to long-lasting connections. However, the anonymity and ease of communication in virtual settings can also lead to risks, such as sexting, which carries dangers like blackmail. Additionally, there is a risk that individuals may be dishonest in their self-disclosures, presenting a false image to exploit others.

Absence of Gating in Virtual Relationships

A "gate" is an obstacle that can hinder the formation of a relationship, such as physical unattractiveness or social anxiety in face-to-face interactions. McKenna and Bargh argue that one of the advantages of online communication is the absence of these gates. Without these barriers, people can focus more on self-disclosure and less on superficial features. This also allows individuals to create online identities, as seen in platforms like Second Life.

Reduced Cues Theory

Sproull and Kiesler's Reduced Cues Theory suggests that online relationships are less effective because they lack many of the cues present in face-to-face interactions, such as body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice. The absence of these cues can lead to de-individuation, where individuals may become disinhibited in their interactions with others, potentially leading to less effective communication.

Evaluation

Support for the Importance of Virtual Relationships

Rosenfeld & Thomas's Research:

• Point: Rosenfeld & Thomas provide support for the role of the internet in forming and maintaining relationships.
• Evidence: In a study of 4,000 US adults, they found that those with internet access were far less likely to be single, with 71.8% having partners.
• Explanation: This suggests that the internet may be displacing traditional ways of meeting a partner, highlighting its importance in modern relationship formation.

Support for Anonymity in Virtual Relationships

Schouten et al.'s Findings:

• Point: Schouten et al. provide evidence that anonymity in virtual relationships facilitates greater self-disclosure.
• Evidence: They found that individuals with social anxiety were more likely to disclose personal information in virtual relationships due to the lack of non-verbal cues in online communication.
• Explanation: This supports the idea that people who struggle with social interactions in the physical world can self-disclose more easily in virtual environments.

Support for Absence of Gating

McKenna et al.'s Study:

• Point: McKenna et al. provide evidence for the absence of gating in virtual relationships.
• Evidence: In a study where participants were randomly paired and asked to interact in two 20-minute sessions, those in the online condition (without gates) liked each other more than those in the face-to-face condition.
• Explanation: This supports the idea that relationships can form more deeply online when traditional barriers (gates) are absent.

Criticism of Temporal Validity

Limitations in McKenna's Study:

• Point: McKenna's study may lack temporal validity.
• Evidence: The study was conducted over 10 years ago in a chat room, whereas today, there are many more ways to interact online, such as platforms like Reddit, which encourage pseudonyms.
• Explanation: The rapid development of social media means that older studies may be out of date, reducing their relevance to current online interactions.

Biological Basis for Self-Disclosure

Tamir & Mitchell's Research:

• Point: There may be a biological basis for self-disclosure in virtual relationships.
• Evidence: Tamir & Mitchell found increased MRI activity in two brain regions associated with reward when participants talked about themselves on social media. Participants reported greater pleasure when sharing their thoughts with friends and family online compared to keeping their thoughts private.
• Explanation: This suggests that the human tendency to share experiences on social media may be driven by the rewarding nature of self-disclosure, providing a biological explanation for why people engage in such behaviour online.