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Interpersonal relationships in the digital age: Why are online communications more intimate than face-to-face communication?
In today's digital society, with the increasing popularity of social media, more and more people choose to build and maintain interpersonal relationships through the Internet. According to social information processing theory (SIP), such online interactions not only promote the development of interpersonal relationships, but in some ways are even more intimate than traditional face-to-face communication. As we invest time in virtual worlds, the quality of our relationships changes dramatically.
Overview of Social Information Processing Theory
Social information processing theory, first proposed by Salancik and Pfeffer in 1978, looks at how individuals form attitudes and make decisions in social settings. As technology advanced, Joseph Walther reintroduced the theory in 1992, focusing on computer-mediated communication (CMC). He argues that people can build just as deep relationships online, even though they lack the nonverbal cues of face-to-face communication.
Relationships on the Internet may show greater intimacy than traditional face-to-face communication.
Three stages of interpersonal relationships
Social information processing theory divides the online communication process into three stages: impersonal, personal, and transpersonal. In the impersonal stage, online communication is perceived as more task-oriented due to the lack of nonverbal cues. As communication time increases, the exchange of social information increases and enters the personalization stage. In the transpersonal stage, senders can shape their own image through selective self-presentation, making online interpersonal interactions more intimate.
In the transpersonal stage, the sender's self-presentation is highly controlled, resulting in improved interpersonal relationships.
Differences between online and face-to-face communication
Many studies have shown that the absence of non-verbal cues in online communication can have a negative impact on relationship development. However, Walther's research challenges this view. He suggests that online relationships can be just as intimate or even more intimate through sustained and in-depth communication. The core of social information processing theory lies in impression management, which is the sender's creation of an ideal self-image for others during the communication process.
Impression management makes online communication a unique way to build intimate relationships.
Self-presentation in online interactions
The self-image that people construct online is often based on personal expectations and goals. According to Higgins' self-inconsistency theory, discrepancies between a person's actual self, ideal self, and ought self can lead to emotional discomfort. But in an online environment, it is easier for users to express their "true selves," which makes the connections in online interactions stronger.
ConclusionWith the continuous development of science and technology, online communication may become the main form of interpersonal relationships in the future. Through the perspective of social information processing theory, we can understand that although face-to-face communication has its unique advantages, the intimacy brought by online communication cannot be underestimated. However, in this age where digital and interpersonal relationships are intertwined, can it really replace traditional face-to-face interactions?
