When I was looking for examples of online relationships moving to FTF, I asked one of my friends (J) if he knew of any examples. As it turns out, he met his current girlfriend (A) online and eventually moved on to FTF, so I am going to use him as an example. The relationship eventually started when J met A on Myspace and began to talk to her on AIM. The relationship stayed strictly online for about a month, and they mostly talked about standard things like movies, music, books, likes and dislikes, etc. Eventually they met FTF and started going out.
As it turns out, my friend’s relationship supports a few theories we have learned about in this class. The first is the Social Information Processing (SIP) theory. This theory explains that although initial interactions online might seem cold at first, given enough time they will warm up and catch up in warmth to near those of FTF interactions. When I talked with J about him talking with A, he said that they did not even have a ton in common. They kept talking/flirting on AIM, however, and once they felt pretty familiar with each other they decided to meet FTF. J told me that the comfort they had learned to feel with each other in the online environment translated pretty well into the real world.
A similar theory in this situation would be the Uncertainty Reduction Theory (URT). This states that the more information is shared between two people in CMC would lead to greater liking and intimacy. So, like I said, J and A spent a long time talking to each other and learning more and more about each other before they ever met FTF. URT would tell us that this would lead to increased liking and attraction. This makes sense, because when meeting someone FTF for the first time, it would make anyone feel more comfortable knowing more about the other person than less. Also, even though J and A did not share the same views and tastes on every subject, they at least knew what the other felt. URT does not specify that the information shared between two people has to necessarily coincide with both persons’ views, only that they have to share the information in general. Like the name of the theory implies, it is the reduced uncertainty of the interaction that helps, not the specifics of the information.
My friends experience leaving virtuality does not support the hyperpersonal model, though. The hyperpersonal model would say that when communicating in a CMC environment people’s perceptions of others might become exaggerated and blown out of proportion. If this were the case, when people end up meeting each other FTF, they would probably feel some disappointment when reality ends up different than their perceptions.
1 comment:
Hey Logan, nice post! I really liked this example because its simple nature really helps exemplify and emphasize the theories that apply. You discussed the Social Information Processing theory. You define this theory as when in CMC people might have a cold impression to begin with however after time the impression will warm and become as complete of an impression as you would make in a Ftf interaction. Then you said that your friends J an A formed a relationship and then it became fuller over time. It sounds like they clicked from the beginning and then just progressed from their. I’m not sure if this example supports the SIP theory because there was no initial coldness. However, I really liked your explanation of the URT theory in relations to their transition and comfort level with each other because of their shared experiences with one another. Also, I think you made a very good point that it is the act of sharing their opinions and thoughts that is important to the development of the relationship rather than them having a lot in common and agreeing on all matters. Who wants to date an opposite gendered version of themselves anyway?
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