Assignment #11

Not having experienced an online relationship that blossomed into a face to face relationship, i explored the web for examples of such a relationship. I came accross Laura who submitted her story of how she met her husband via Match.com. Her profile name was "Your SearchIsover" and his was "handybunk." She had been on match for quite a while, to no avail, until she came across "handybunk's" profile. After reviewing his information, she sent him an email, and he responded. After corresponding through email, they evolved to phone conversations until one day Laura needed a broken window in her house fixed. Obviously, the first person she thought of to mend her window was "handybunk." They went out to dinner, and the rest as they say, is history.

Of the theories we have examined, after assessing the story, the Hyperpersonal model of communication really outlines Laura's experience. All five aspects (over-attribution process, developmental aspect, selective self presentation, re-allocation of cognitive resources and behavioral confirmation) are incorporated in her scenario. Particularly since the medium in which Laura met her mate was match.com, it can be assumed that when filling out their respective profiles, they exhibited selective self presentation- choosing to display information which they deemed attractive about themselves, and neglecting to include less attracitve information. When relaying the story, Laura also specified that she chose to go on match.com because she feels uncomfortable in bars and vibrant social scenes. It is possible that because Laura did not have to concern herself with excess non-verbal cues, through re-allocation of her cognitive resources, she was able to more efficiently and successfully find "handybunk." Laura also mentioned in the story that she was the first to send an email to "handybunk" expressing an interest in him, and telling him she believed they had a lot of similar interests. After hearing that positive feedback, it is possible that "handybunk," anxious to find a mate himself, reacted according to how laura perceived him, making his reactions a product of behavioral confirmation. The nature of Laura and "handybunk's" relationship displays signs of developmental progress, as they started exchanging emails, and then phone calls, and eventually met face to face, getting to know one another better with every increased mode of communication. It can not be said definitivey after reading Laura's story whether either her or "handybunk" participated in the over-attribution process, but it would not be unlikely, again considering their initial medium for meeting as match.com.

As can be seen through the anlaysis of Laura's story, her online relationship that extended beyond the virutal world closely displays the characteristics of the Hyperpersonal model.