Intimate experiences in virtual worlds: the interplay among hyperpersonal communication, avatar-based systems, and experiential drives

Freeman, Guo Zhang; Bardzell, Jeffrey; Bardzell, Shaowen

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/89293 Copy

Description

Title

Intimate experiences in virtual worlds: the interplay among hyperpersonal communication, avatar-based systems, and experiential drives

Author(s)

Freeman, Guo Zhang; Bardzell, Jeffrey; Bardzell, Shaowen

Issue Date

2016-03-15

Keyword(s)

• intimacy
• intimate experiences
• hyperpersonal communication
• virtual worlds
• Second Life

Abstract

This paper investigates the intersection of traditional social science understandings of intimacy, established Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC) theories developed in the days of text-based Internet communications, and studies of Information and Communication Technology (ICT)-mediated intimacy. Using mixed methods, this paper offers an empirical analysis of how users (re)define, interpret, experience, and evaluate “intimacy” in a hyperpersonal sociotechnical system—Second Life (SL). Findings show that SL intimacy closely related to emotional fulfillment, the need to be touched, and interpersonal communication, but that SL intimacy also emphasized new forms of physical proximity. Especially, a subjectively meaningful intimate experience usually emerged in the interplay among self-selection, experiential drives, and technological affordance. This paper contributes to the study of social impacts of ICTs by shedding light on potential changes in how people define and experience interpersonal relationships in hyperpersonal sociotechnical environments.

Publisher

iSchools

Series/Report Name or Number

IConference 2016 Proceedings

Type of Resource

text

Language

eng

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/89293

DOI

https://doi.org/10.9776/16239

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2016 is held by the authors. Copyright permissions, when appropriate, must be obtained directly from the authors.

Owning Collections