Chapter 10 Social Information Processing Theory

The Social Processing Theory talks about the idea of forming relationships over the internet. In class we talked about starting a relationship in SIP and other aspects of it. After going home and thinking about the ideas of forming relationships over the internet, I have new feelings about it. For the longest time I always thought that online relationships were never really complete relationships, I always felt that in order for a relationship to be true it would need to eventually be a face-to-face relationship. However, after discusing this theory, learning more about what a relationship actually is, and hearing some examples in class, my feelings have some what changed. The example of the web site that offers one the opportuniy of having a cyber girlfriend may be a some what rediculous concept, but it does seem that by definition, it could actually be considered a relationship. I personaly have never had an online relationship before, aside from long distance friends who I stay in contact with throught the internet, which I guess, could be considered an online realtionship. Overall, I feel that after going over the three steps of how to start relationships and then looking at actual relationships that fit this, I am more convinced that it is possible to have a true online relationship.

Chapter 9 Uncertainty Reduction Theory

The uncertainty reduction theory is basically the idea that we as people are uncertain about people that we don't know and that as you get to know a person the uncertainly of that person will change. In class, we talked about the 8 axioms of the uncertainty reduction theory. Each axiom explains what happens when uncertainty is either raised or lowered. After going over each axiom I found myself disagreeing with some of them. One specific axiom that I strongly did not agree with was axiom 7. This axiom says that as uncertainty increases your like for that person decreases. I personaly, have had a few experiences where I thought that I really like a person but when I got to know them better and found out more about them, my liking for them decreased. I do however feel that in some cases this axiom can be held true, but I don't think that it has any significant truth to it. I felt that over all I agreed with most of these axioms but I do feel that there are exceptions to all of them. This theory also talks about ways of coping with uncertainty. Out of the examples given for this I found that I tend to use both the active and interactive methods of coping with uncertainty. When I am getting to know a person I definately try and find out information about them both through other people and from talking to them one on one.

Ch. 8 Social Penetration Theory

In the social penetration theory we talked about the idea of breadth and depth (the onion example). The idea that we disclose things to one another in steps and that as you disclose more your relationships grow (closer friends fill up more of the onion). In my own relationship experiences I think that this holds a lot of truth. However I feel that there are some exceptions. The social penetration theory talks about de-penetration. It says that it is a "gradual layer-by-layer with drawl". Meaning that the less time you see a person or the less you disclose to them, the layers will begin to fade away and the relationship will no longer be there. I think that in some instances this is true. However, for me personally, I have a friend from high school that I can go for long periods of time with out talking to, and still have a good relationship with her.

Ch. 6 Expectancy Violations Theory

After reading chapter 6 and discussing the expectancy violation theory in class, I was really surprised to find how well I could relate this theory to my life. I play field hockey for Kent State, so for the past three years that I have been here I have had quite a few teammates come from over seas. At many points through out each season I found that there were many differences in how we all go about our lives. One specific instance was at one point during my first year I had a teammate that would be very blunt in the way in which she would ask for things or make comments. At first, we all thought she was so rude but after a while realised that she wasn't intending to come across this way, it was just different in her culture. By acting this way she was violating our expectations. However, after realising why she acted this way we adapted to it. I feel that this represents the theory very well, and shows how one adapts and reacts to expectancy violations.