Social Information Processing (SIP) Theory suggests that online relationships require more time to develop than face-to-face relationships. Developed by Joseph Walther in 1992, SIP Theory states that people form impressions of others online through the content of messages, without nonverbal cues. While early research predicted interpersonal conflicts online, more recent research finds that information is exchanged more slowly online, reducing risks. The theory also suggests that online relationships can become as intimate as offline relationships over time due to self-selected self-presentation and idealization of partners.

1. Social
Information
Processing
Theory
Presented by Becky Pateman

2. Definition
Social Information Processing (SIP) Theory
Is an interpersonal communication theory that
suggests that online interpersonal relationship
development might require more time to develop
than traditional face-to-face relationships. Joseph
Walther developed this theory in 1992.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_information_processing_theory

3. Social Information
Processing
o SIP is gaining information from another
individual to form a interpersonal impression
of who they are.
o The mental image that a person defines
impressions in the mind of another person .

4. Looking at the Theory
• SIP Theory is consistent with
oSocial Penetration Theory
oUncertainty Reduction Theory
CMC (computer-mediated messages)

5. Looking at the Theory
Hyper-Personal: CMC relationships that they are more
intimate than romances or friendships would be if
partners were together.
Interpersonal Impression Relationship
Information Formation Development

6. Sender/Receiver
Sender
Model
(selective self-presentation)
o What they want to reveal about themselves.
Receiver (Over-attribution of similarity)
o Creates an idealized image of their partner.
Channel (communicating on your own time)
o Allows the users express themselves the way they want,
when they want.
Feedback (self-selected prophecy)
o is the person’s expectation of other, to evoke a response
from them that confirms what he or she anticipated.

7. Differences
Online communication Face-to-Face
o Facial Expressions
o CMC users form impressions by
the content of the message o Tone of Voice
o Body position
o The response time of the o Interpersonal distance
message
o Gestures
o Delayed response
o Prompt response
o Touch
o Relationship Stage
o Tone the sender wants to convey

8. Example
The Big Bang Theory
– Season 2, Episode 13
• http://youtu.be/k0xgjUhEG3U

9. The Big Bang Theory 1st
Stage

10. The Big Bang Theory 2nd
Stage

11. CMC Users
o Discussion sites
o Support groups
o Dating sites
o Chat rooms
o CMC users join online discussion and chat rooms
have a higher need for affiliations than typical
person whose relationship is developed.

12. Advantages
• Convince of sending the message in your own
time.
• The Intimacy of the relationship would be the
same if they meet face-to-face.

13. Disadvantages
o People become more self-absorbed and less
inhibited
o CMC relationship will be weaker/fragile (when
establishing the relationship)
o Logging off
o Terminating the relationship
o Impersonal
o Task-oriented

14. The ‘Information Superhighway’ is clearly not
just a road for moving data from one place to
another, but a roadside where people pass
each other, occasionally meet, and decide to
travel together.
You can’t see very much of other driver’s at
first, unless you do the travel together.
There are highway bandits, to be sure, who are
not shy as they appear to be – one must drive
defensively-and there are conflicts and
disagreements online as there are off-road too.

15. While early research suggested that numerous
interpersonal collisions were impending,
recent research finds that interpersonal
information moves at slower speeds,
and in doing so, the roadway is not as dangerous
as once thought. IT scan offer a relational
joyride. 25

16. Conclusion
The Theory proves that there is no difference on
the long term effect of the relationship, where
the two individuals meet:
• Online
• Face-to-Face
That it would not have an effect of the Intimacy of the
relationship.

17. Conclusion
• The Theory proves that the an online relationships
will take longer with the communication channels
compared to an face-to-face communication
channel
• The Theory shows that the CMC Users
are more than likely to be Single
rather than in a current
relationship

19. Definition of topic
References
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_information_processing_theory sighted on the 11/10/2011
Investigation of topic
http://www.afirstlook.com/edition_7/theory_resources/Social_Information_Processing_Theory sighted on
11/10/2011
Image on S.4
http://www.techfollow.net/google-is-re-defining-the-way-we-do-online-communication-through-google-
apps/ sighted on the 15/10/2011.
Image on S.8
http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/cheekd/IDBgmZHBUoW9PrXyhjQRQDM4UoiM1DeotdwmP
u8MBghg6H4i6uONyQs6aFWs/wpid-1284925074_fv-online-dati.jpg sighted on the 15/10/2011.
Image on S.8
http://thebigbangtheoryepisodes.blogspot.com/2010/05/friendship-algorithm.html sighted on the 16/10/2011