Welcome NMC! SL Conversations: Recreating Romance In-World Dr. Phylis Johnson Southern Illinois University Sonicity Fitzroy & Shock Soderstrom Second Life Hosts NMC Symposium on the Evolution of Communication December 5, 2007

To be, or not to be, in SL How has Second Life changed the way we interact, date, and romantically engage (or not) online in virtual settings?

How has Second Life changed the way we interact, date, and romantically engage (or not) online in virtual settings?

To be, or not to be, in SL How does Second Life provide for romance in all the old and odd places?

How does Second Life provide for romance in all the old and odd places?

To be, or not to be, in SL Can we “feel” it? Take me away

Can we “feel” it?

Dear Second Life, What should I know about building an online relationship ? Communication Contact Context Connections

Communication

Contact

Context

Connections

Common in the Uncommon September 18, 2007, a couple made headlines when they met online in a chat room; they had no idea that they were already married – and to each other. Soon after, they divorced in real life.

September 18, 2007, a couple made headlines when they met online in a chat room; they had no idea that they were already married – and to each other. Soon after, they divorced in real life.

Behind the Screen Casual Role Playing w/SL friendships In/Out of Character (real life friends) RL Chat (using SL as interface) Romantic Stranger (total pick-up) Situational/Purposive Relations (i.e., clubs) Totally Into Character

Casual Role Playing w/SL friendships

In/Out of Character (real life friends)

RL Chat (using SL as interface)

Romantic Stranger (total pick-up)

Situational/Purposive Relations (i.e., clubs)

Totally Into Character

“ Stranger” vs. Friend Houghton Mifflin Online Dictionary : “neither a friend or an acquaintance; a foreigner, newcomer, or outsider …unaccustomed to/unacquainted with something specified…a visitor or guest.” Merriam Webster Online Dictionary : rooted in 14th Century Middle English, from Old French “from estrange.” “One who does not belong to or is kept from the activities of a group.”

Houghton Mifflin Online Dictionary : “neither a friend or an acquaintance; a foreigner, newcomer, or outsider …unaccustomed to/unacquainted with something specified…a visitor or guest.”

Merriam Webster Online Dictionary : rooted in 14th Century Middle English, from Old French “from estrange.” “One who does not belong to or is kept from the activities of a group.”

Belonging SLers are defined by membership and/or their common interest in the virtual reality

SLers are defined by membership and/or their common interest in the virtual reality

Online Romance: The Wildermuth & Vogl-Baur Studies 46% of the [undergraduate] respondents reported involvement in online romances or they knew family members or friends who had been involved in one, now or in the past. (2002)

46% of the [undergraduate] respondents reported involvement in online romances or they knew family members or friends who had been involved in one, now or in the past. (2002)

Wildermuth & Vogl-Baur 2002 Nua Internet Survey reports that relationship building, which includes friendships and romantic partnerships, comprises more than 70% of the average Internet users’ time (2007, p. 211).

2002 Nua Internet Survey reports that relationship building, which includes friendships and romantic partnerships, comprises more than 70% of the average Internet users’ time (2007, p. 211).

Wildermuth & Vogl-Baur “ much research has focused on Internet use as the central variable, rather than the meanings within the communication (Whitty & Gavin, 2001) and Riva (2002) who depicts the user ‘as social actors who shape the online content for themselves’” (p. 212).

“ much research has focused on Internet use as the central variable, rather than the meanings within the communication (Whitty & Gavin, 2001) and Riva (2002) who depicts the user ‘as social actors who shape the online content for themselves’” (p. 212).

Predictors online relationship satisfaction: “ intimacy, trust, communication satisfaction…

Predictors

online relationship satisfaction:

“ intimacy, trust, communication satisfaction…

Making Contact “… as partners grow close and depth increases, trust develops and as trust increases, so do levels of intimacy.” “… the role of intimacy in predicting relationship satisfaction in this study is consistent with a wealth of personal relationship [research]…” “… that indicates intimacy is a key component of relationships and marital satisfaction (e.g., Feeney, Noller, & Ward, 1997; Hassebrauck & Fehr, 2002).” Anderson & Emmers-Sommer, 2006, p. 166

“… as partners grow close and depth increases, trust develops and as trust increases, so do levels of intimacy.”

“… the role of intimacy in predicting relationship satisfaction in this study is consistent with a wealth of personal relationship [research]…”

“… that indicates intimacy is a key component of relationships and marital satisfaction (e.g., Feeney, Noller, & Ward, 1997; Hassebrauck & Fehr, 2002).”

Anderson & Emmers-Sommer, 2006, p. 166

Making Contact The “online relationship is the relationship.” “One’s contentment…would be directly related to ‘communication satisfaction.’” But are we talking about something more than satisfaction with a medium? Might a virtual experience like SL lead to greater emotional investment and intensity for online romantic relationships? How is your avatar feeling today? Anderson & Emmers-Sommer, 2006, p.16

The “online relationship is the relationship.” “One’s contentment…would be directly related to ‘communication satisfaction.’”

But are we talking about something more than satisfaction with a medium?

Might a virtual experience like SL lead to greater emotional investment and intensity for online romantic relationships?

How is your avatar feeling today?

I am pleased. - Sonicity

I am sad. - Sonicity

Making Contact “… eye contact, body language, facial expressions, vocalization, hugs, pats on the back, cries, embraces, kisses and giggles are fundamentals of our evolutionary social emotional well-being.” Nei, 2001, p. 432

“… eye contact, body language, facial expressions, vocalization, hugs, pats on the back, cries, embraces, kisses and giggles are fundamentals of our evolutionary social emotional well-being.”

Nei, 2001, p. 432

Making Contact Wildermuth & Vogl-Bauer (2007)’s speculate that authentic relationships need to be “tactile” to create “a lasting bond” (p. 224). Can a tactile bond be accomplished through a mediator such as an avatar? Do your fingers dance across the keyboard when that special avatar “tps” into your region?

Wildermuth & Vogl-Bauer (2007)’s speculate that authentic relationships need to be “tactile” to create “a lasting bond” (p. 224).

Can a tactile bond be accomplished through a mediator such as an avatar?

Do your fingers dance across the keyboard when that special avatar “tps” into your region?

Making Contact Wildermuth & Vogl-Bauer (2007): “There is an irony here in that the technological and disembodied world of ICTs that has often been depicted in depersonalized terms may also provide a haven where authenticity, negotiation, and the development of trust may lead to romance.” (p 220)

Wildermuth & Vogl-Bauer (2007): “There is an irony here in that the technological and disembodied world of ICTs that has often been depicted in depersonalized terms may also provide a haven where authenticity, negotiation, and the development of trust may lead to romance.” (p 220)