The Effect of the Use of Mobile Telephone Upon the Development and Maintenance of Romantic Relationships - Research Paper Example

Abstract Over the recent decade, communication technology has turn out to be more and more vital in the lives of various people. The younger people are in particular heavy users of innovative mobile communication forms such as text messaging, e-mail, and instant text messaging. Several researchers demonstrate that adolescents, as well as grown-ups, are making use of these communication instruments chiefly to strengthen present relationships with romantic partners. Progressively more, they are incorporating these instruments into their face-to-face relational domains. The primary objective of this study is to identify the effects of text messaging on romantic relationships. The research method that will be used in this study is comprehensive secondary literature analysis. Observable factors, such as the communication effectiveness of text messaging, and latent factors, such as intimacy, trust and communication success, will be taken into account in the attempt to determine the effects of mobile communication technology on the development of romantic relationships. Introduction and Rationale Mobile technology is affecting various societies and text messaging, or “short type-written messages sent via mobile phones” (Wood & Smith, 2005, 74), has earned research attempts from the international community. Studies reveal that text messages are used mostly to initiate, enhance, sustain or otherwise influence interpersonal relationships. This study will attempt to investigate relational, specifically romantic, advantages of text messaging. In particular, this study will try to answer these research questions: (1) what are the effects of text messaging on the initiation and/or enhancement of romantic relationships? (2) How does text messaging affect sentiments of ‘romantic attachment’? The topic of this study merits attention from the academic community for the following reasons. First, the younger generation of today makes use of mobile technologies as its main medium of communication. Dependence on these sophisticated communication technologies has facilitated the growth of new forms of relationships, which are developed and maintained through electronic media such as SMS, wireless internet connections, e-mail, and others (Barnes, 2003). Moreover, mobile telephones have altered the manner intimate relationships develop, as well as the views of individuals concerning this specific form of interpersonal relationship (Henderson & Gilding, 2004). Current studies have demonstrated that engaging in communication is generally more essential than its substance or content (Soukup, Buckley, & Robinson, 2001). Various contents indicate that there are definitely vital opportunities for initiating enhanced and more intimate relationships through mobile telephone use (Vanclear, 1991). Second, Mastuda (2001) proposes that the mobile medium has considerably reduced the quality of communication due to the fact that “consumer related communication”n (ibid, para 4) and “brief messaging (just to kill time)” (ibid, para 4) have been recognized as the primary functions of mobile-linked communications. But although the mobile text messages’ content has been identified as unimportant or petty, small talk by itself may be regarded a facilitator of interpersonal communications. In other words, the concerns of this study merit significant attention for the reason that text messaging has noticeably affected the pattern of human relationships, extent and frequency of individualized interactions, and means of communications. As a result, individual opinions of interpersonal relationships have been affected by the use of mobile communication technologies, with a sweeping influence on the manner that communication communities are built and organized. Furthermore, in spite of the considerable influence of the mobile medium, only a small number of empirical studies have focused on the effect of the use of mobile telephone upon the development and/or maintenance of romantic relationships (Mcquillen, 2003). This study then aims to demonstrate how the use of text messaging influences intimate relationships between individuals. In order to attain this objective, the pattern of interaction between various evident variables and underlying variables is examined. On a personal note, the research process and findings will hopefully help me in achieving interpersonal objectives. This endeavor may improve my communication competence by enhancing my capability of choosing the most suitable, or socially acceptable, medium, and the one that will produce better outcomes. And most importantly, this study will contribute positively to my understanding of the impact of text messaging on contemporary intimate interpersonal relationships. The research method that will be applied in this study is comprehensive secondary data analysis. The key terms that will be used are electronically-mediated communication (EMC), which includes text messaging, mobile communication technology (MCT) and face-to-face (FTF) interaction. The articles will be obtained from academic libraries, online libraries such as Questia.com and Proquest.com, and Sage Publications. Search engines, such as Google and Yahoo, will be consulted for additional data and information. Literature Review Whether or not mobile communication technology (MCT) can be a useful environment for developing relationships has been a concern of debate among academics since the formal investigation of networked interaction started. Early studies revealed that use of MCT focused individuals on more activity-directed messages and prevented the growth of social interactions and relationships among users (Rabby, 2007). Nevertheless, an emergent body of literature contends not merely that individuals make use of MCT for social intentions but also that, in several instances, individuals favor the medium for interpersonal communication. A dignified French economist, Albert Bressand, has even remarked that systems referred to as information technologies are more fittingly called ‘relationship technologies’ (Wood & Smith, 2005, 71): “The new machines of today are between man and man, rather than between man and nature. And relations rather than material products are what are processed in these machines” (ibid, 71). This section will review empirical evidence on the growth of romantic relationships though MCTs or text messaging. Impersonal Communication: Identifying Boundaries of MCT Can you remember the times you fooled around with someone you really liked? What are the behaviors that you engaged in? Possibilities are you smiled a lot, bending over in the direction of your special someone, and looking directly into his/her eyes. No doubt you might have initiated a small talk with that someone, but your affection was perhaps indicated more by how you acted than by what you said. During the conversation you were prone to make use of several nonverbal prompts to show your fondness of him/her. Facial expressions, eye contact and body movement are all conduits through which individuals can communicate messages without the use of language; as people perhaps already are aware of, nonverbal communication makes up the largest share of human face-to-face messages, with experts approximating that roughly 90% of the social messages in communication stems from these conduits (Wood & Smith, 2005, 72). Until currently, the nature of most types of MCT has implied that inadequate amounts of nonverbal messages may be exchanged between individuals over electronic networks. From its beginning and persisting through present usage, the mobile telephone mainly has been a channel for communicating verbal messages. Obviously, the arrival of technologies such as mobile cameras and photographic gadgets that upload clear images to MCTs, undoubtedly poses a challenge to this general idea, but in numerous network channels, messages are still dominated by textual content (Wright, 2004). Early studies into MCTs, therefore, were contending with media typified by showcases of expressions and symbols without the obvious advantages of other prompts. As a result this brought about identification for electronic-mediated being a ‘cues-filtered-out’ (Anderson & Emmers-Sommer, 2006, 153) framework to communication. Since there are fewer messages exchanged between individuals, consequently, it is not astonishing that some would think of this medium as more impersonal than face-to-face interaction. Martin Lea and Russell Spears (1998), who have studied electronic-mediated interaction and relationship, suggest that people still have much to learn about the multifaceted nature of human relationships in electronic-mediated environments. In particular, they argue that research thus far has been directed by a number of beliefs and prejudices that have confirmed to be unreasonable to electronic-mediated interactions. Lea and Spears (1998) regard characters toward physical desirability and physical signals as directing relational growth and an importance on the verbal exchanges among individuals in romantic relationships among these prejudices. Evidently, if the nonverbal attributes of physical verbalism and presence are absolute standards for what may and may not be classified as a relationship, then those instigated electronically obviously fall short. Nonetheless, if elucidation of what makes up relating is extended to transcend these prejudices, it could well be that assumptions for supporting the legitimacy of electronic-mediated relationships are probable. Electronically-Mediated Communication and Relating Early studies on electronically-mediated communication (EMC) integrated theoretical frameworks such as social presence theory and media richness theory. Advocates of the social presence paradigm maintained that EMC was not favorable of establishing intimate relationships through mobile communication technologies due to negligible social perspective and nonverbal prompts intrinsic to EMC. Several went quite far as to propose that relationships formed through MCT were unreal (Henderson & Gilding, 2004). Nevertheless, more current studies suggest that EMC does allow for individuals to reach intimacy through the use of mobile telephone for communication. By broadening earlier theoretical attempt on EMC, such as the social identification/deindividuation (SIDE) framework and the social information processing (SIP) framework, Walther (1996) suggested a ‘hyperpersonal’ framework of EMC. He maintained that interpersonal communication that is electronically-mediated lends itself to quickly budding relationships because EMC is more personal than face-to-face (FTF) communication (Emmers-Sommer, 2004). As argued by Walther (1996), this intimacy grows due to the ability of the sender to cautiously present himself or herself, the granted capability in revising messages before sending them, the inclination of the received to construct encouraging and perfect partner qualities. These variables then merge like clockwork such that electronically-mediated communicators strengthen one another’s opinions of the perfect partner. Numerous researchers have carried out investigations in which the social presence theory was demonstrated to be imprecise for clarifying a great deal of what transpires in EMCs. (Wood & Smith, 2005). Walther and Burgoon (1992) discovered that in the preliminary phases of electronically-mediated relationship enhancement, people are less honest and reveal their true identity more gradually. Conversely, subsequent studies showed that people in such relationships rapidly adjust to the absence of bandwidth. Walther (1996) has emphasized that EMC surmounts certain weaknesses of FTF interactions by presenting a perspective in which individuals can relate with some degree of anonymity. Once in an electronically-mediated context, such as in text messaging, individuals could change their names, or other private information about which they might feel awkward or insecure. The removal of emphasis of physical presence is advantageous to authentic and open communication and consequently could lessen communication anxiety. The above discussion might facilitate in elucidating how individuals construct social and personal relationships through EMC. Parks and Roberts (1998) studied personal interactions and relationships in different forms of multi-user domains (MUDs) and found out that almost ‘94% of their 235 participants’ (ibid, p. 522) had developed an electronically-mediated relationship of some kind. The researchers specified that participants revealed predictability, commitment, understanding of one another, and breadth and depth as being average to high. Moreover, almost one third of the total sample population had advanced to in-person rendezvous. Baker (2002) reviewed case researches of eight partners that initiated romantic relationships through EMC to identify what attributes encouraged them to be flourishing after meeting face-to-face and discovered that enhanced communication time and capable conflict handling abilities were two variables that heartened the decision to meet FTF. Wright (2004) explored the relational maintenance techniques employed by individuals in nonromantic electronically-mediated relationships and discovered that honesty and optimism were the two most frequent techniques revealed. These researchers are advancing the investigation of electronically-mediated relationships, but additional research into the multiplying domain of such relationship is necessary as personal relationships that emerge through text messaging keep on increasing and, in several instances, progress to FTF (McKenna, Green & Gleason, 2002). Electronic Media and Romantic Relationships Given that people, particularly adolescents, are making use of electronic media to communicate with friends and acquaintances, it is essential to identify how they employ them in the domain of romantic relationships. Adolescents seem to exploit electronic media to strengthen present romantic relationships, similar to how they develop friendships. As reported by a recent online survey conducted by Teenage Research Unlimited, almost a quarter of adolescents in intimate relationships have kept in touch with a special someone hourly between ‘midnight and 5 a.m.’(Anderson & Emmers-Sommer, 2006, 154) through a mobile phone or text messaging. “One in six communicated ten or more times an hour through the night. Concern about sleep deprivation has been one response to these data” (ibid, p. 154). Electronically-mediated communications varieties that facilitate anonymity provide teenagers a new means to exercise mate selection. Drawing on a collection of 12,000 expressions from adolescent chat rooms, examiners have discovered that the pursuit for partners was ever-present in EMCs, with roughly two partner demands every minute. Much less is identified about teenagers’ usage of electronic communication for developing intimate relationship. The 2000 survey on adolescents and text messaging conducted by Pew reported that among adolescents who made use of text messaging ’17 percent used it to ask someone out and 13 percent, to break up with someone’ (Anderson & Emmers-Sommer, 2006, 154). More individuals are growing to be involved in electronically-mediated intimate relationships. These people occupy a remarkable relational position since they participate in relationships that are viewed by a number of researchers as either ultramodern or taken for granted (Emmers-Sommer, 2005). In light of these uncharacteristic relational situations, such people could also be deficient in information about electronically-mediated intimate relationships and social support set of connections from which to obtain affirmation about their romantic relationship. Even though there is a wealth of empirical evidence on romantic relationships generally, there is still a great deal to be learned about the forms of relationships that develop in EMC contexts. In theory, existing interpersonal premises do not fully give an explanation for the growth of, or what takes place within, electronically-mediated intimate relationships (Merkle & Richardson, 2000). Basically, it is likely that individuals in electronically-mediated romantic relationships will endure relationship difficulties or wrestle with the disgrace that emanates from having a romantic relationship developed through EMC (Wildermuth, 2004) as individuals have a tendency to view electronically-mediated relationships disapprovingly (Anderson, 2005), hence, individuals might request counseling from a professional, who, at the contemporary period, would be short of any extensive research on electronically-mediated intimate relationships. Thus far, there has been negligible research carried out in the field electronically-mediated romantic relationships. A great deal of current empirical evidence has been interested with how electronically-mediated relationships are originally developed or viewed and directed as ‘genuine’ relationships. Such empirical evidence is certainly helpful, but we should also explore other features of these relationships, such as the factors that contribute to the success of electronically-mediated relationships. Scholars are starting to consider this issue; yet, a small number of successful or satisfactory electronically-mediated interpersonal relationships have been made public (Wright, 2004). Therefore, it is important to identify which determinants of FTF relationship success are valid in electronically-mediated romantic relationships. Definitely, in order to further understanding of the factors that reinforce successful electronically-mediated romantic relationships it would be productive to explore what predicts romantic relationship satisfaction through EMC, particularly text messaging. Romantic Relationship Satisfaction Relationship satisfaction, which is defined as “the degree to which an individual is content and satisfied with his or her relationship” (Anderson & Emmers-Sommer, 2006, 155), is a forceful determinant of relationship duration and success in customary face-to-face romantic relationships. Thus, relationship satisfaction is fundamental not merely for recognizing satisfactory electronically-meditated relationship but also as a capable determinant of an electronically-mediated relationship that could successfully progress to a FTF relationship. The concept of relationship satisfaction has been studied as a dyadic and individual creation, and scholars have discovered that it is influenced by individuals’ views of the different behaviors, attitudes and communication of their partners (Mcquillen, 2003). For instance, Burleson, Kunkel and Birch (1994) found out that relationship satisfaction may partly be determined by likeness in communication ideals. If a person feels greatly devoted to an EMC partner and is expecting prospective relationship with the partner in a FTF setting then believed devotion of the partner could affect satisfaction as the prospective success of the FTF relationship could depend on the partner’s devotion to the relationship as it is This is intensified by the awareness that if the relationship does move of off-line relationship, it may possibly continue, either temporarily or permanently, as a long distance relationship. This is due to the fact that many individuals who meet through mobile communication technologies are not geographically proximate and geographical space could capably result in an enlarged necessity for trust and commitment (Merkle & Richardson, 2000). Likeness One factor that has been demonstrated to affect relationship satisfaction is likeness, the extent to which persons view themselves as resembling others. Barnes (2003) has proposed that likeness is vital in electronically-mediated relationships as it occupies the position of nearness; individuals may not be able to be near in physical locality to somebody with whom they are relating electronically, but they can locate others who resemble their attitudes and interests. Research has demonstrated that likeness magnetizes individuals to others with comparable behaviors and dispositions in electronically-mediated social support networks that are founded on particular interests (Wright, 2000). Therefore, if a person views his/her text messaging partner as significantly alike, s/he could be interpersonally interested to the conversational pal and encounter higher relationship satisfaction. Furthermore, Barnes (2003) discovered that believed likeness is a main determinant in making a decision whether to initiate an electronically-mediated relationship. Commitment Commitment, which is defined as “the extent to which people in romantic relationships experience relational cohesion (togetherness), exclusivity, and anticipated continuance of the relationship (dedication)” (Anderson & Emmers-Sommer, 2006, 154), is another determinant demonstrated to be vital to the FTF relationships. Scholars have discovered that commitment is related to relationship satisfaction. Concentrating on EMC, Parks and Floyd (1996) explored electronically-mediated friendships developed in MUDs and revealed that individuals encounter average levels of commitment with their electronically-mediated acquaintances. It is likely that individuals in EMC would not just have a sense of commitment toward electronically-mediated intimate partners but also that the intensity of commitment would directly affect relationship satisfaction in text messaging. Intimacy An important variable in the growth of and relationship satisfaction is intimacy. The theory of social penetration speculates that there is a considerable modification in communication patterns as intimacy grows in relationships. Moreover, intimacy has been directly related to communication satisfaction (Rabby, 2007). Walther (1996) and other scholars have elaborated that individuals who participate in EMC have a tendency to adjust to the low bandwidth of the setting and make use of other channels to suggest nonverbal behaviors that signifies intimacy. Techniques of adjusting involve the application of emoticons that can be inserted to communicate intimacy in electronically-mediated settings and to directly affect the growth of electronically-mediated relationships (Walther & D’Addario, 2001). Walther (1996) revealed that even among individuals who had not met beforehand, individuals attained higher degrees of intimacy through EMC than in comparable FTF relationships. Verifying the findings of Walther, Hian, Chuan, Trevor, and Detenber (2004) explored how intimacy grows in FTF against EMC settings and revealed that intimacy grows more rapidly in the EMC setting because of the high regularity of interaction. Since intimacy is probable to grow rapidly and strongly in EMC due to the manner individuals process information electronically in individual interactions and relationships, high degrees of intimacy among intimate electronically-mediated couples are expected. Consequently, we are aware that intimacy is a main element in the growth of relationships; hence, reinforced degrees of intimacy could further relationship satisfaction in electronically-mediated romantic relationships. Trust As argued by uncertainty reduction theory, individuals will try to acquire details about their relational partners in an attempt to lessen doubt about those partners. Due to the fact that an integral element of trust is the behavioral predictability of the relational partner, an individual in a romantic relationship will take on uncertainty-reducing techniques to acquire information about relationship-directed behaviors of a partner. Individuals high in insecurity and consequently low in trust hold higher extent of encouragement to investigate and evaluate the level of commitment of their partners than do individuals high in confidence and trust (Baker, 2002). Even though this doubt can be attributable to several personal or relational concerns, individuals with insecurity and deficient in trust have a tendency to respond disapprovingly to details about their partners that they believe to be adverse (Anderson, 2005). As argued by Holmes and Rempel, the core objective of uncertainly reduction is to guarantee a feeling of certainty in the relationship founded on the level of attachment of the partner. Since electronically-mediated relationships are developing and entail having confidence in a relational partner, the extent to which one believes a partner in text messaging may influence degree of relationship satisfaction (Emmers-Sommer, 2004). Furthermore, researchers have currently discovered that forceful intensities of trust are not merely probable when communicating interpersonally through electronic or mobile communication technologies (Henderson & Gilding, 2004) but could be enabled by EMC (Anderson & Emmers-Sommer, 2006). Communication Success As maintained by the social exchange framework, relationships persist to build up as incentives surpass costs. Since communication is a primary component of relationships, gratifying interpersonal communication must help in relationship growth. Successful communication takes place when an individual’s anticipations for the interaction are addressed and realized. Moreover, when an individual feels understood or appreciated by his/her partner, this individual encounters greater relationship satisfaction. Views of satisfaction and understanding in communication interactions enhance communication success (Wright, 2004). In an investigation of FTF interactions, Emmers-Sommer (2004) discovered that communication success enhanced relational intimacy and success. It is of concern to explore this trend in EMC setting as well. Research has demonstrated that these abovementioned relational factors, likeness, commitment, intimacy, trust and communication success, affect relational effects and frequently expect relationship success. For instance, Gottman (1999) made known that relationship satisfaction, intimacy, and communication are directly associated. Yet, it is unidentified how these factors influence relationship satisfaction in text messaging romantic relationships. Applying the argument of Walther (1996) which states that EMC interactants are apt to participate in a repeated mechanism in which they carefully revise messages and information when constructing themselves, create affirmative over-attributions about EMC partners and boost extents of self-disclosure, individuals in text messaging romantic relationships could have sharpened views of relational factors that will constructively affect EMC relationship satisfaction. Furthermore, it is imperative to explore which relational factors work together to envisage EMC relationship success for the reason that success forecasts the firmness of a relationship significantly. Communication through mobile telephones is pervasive in various metropolises. In the recent decades, the population of users of mobile telephone has amplified remarkably, with the younger generation particularly relying on the communication services accessible through mobile telephones. This study examines the relationship between romantic relationship and text messaging communication through mobile telephones. This section analyses how use of mobile telephone influences romantic relationships between participants by evaluating frameworks of the cause-effect interaction of various underlying factors in various contexts. Discussion, Applications and Conclusion The purpose of this study is to answer these research questions: (1) what are the effects of text messaging on the initiation and/or enhancement of romantic relationships? (2) How does text messaging affect sentiments of ‘romantic attachment’? This topic has been chosen because the ever-increasing usage of mobile telephones or text messaging to communicate to friends, loved ones, acquaintances or strangers changes the present structure and pattern of interpersonal relationship, or more specifically, romantic relationship at this point. The research method employed in this study is comprehensive secondary literature or empirical evidence analysis on the effect of text messaging or EMC on the development of romantic relationships. By employing a review of secondary literature or empirical evidence available about the topic at hand, the relationships between underlying and observable factors are effectively envisioned. The findings of the literature demonstrate that mobile telephones or EMC in general have a great influence on the attitude, view and communication style of individuals engaged in electronically-mediated romantic relationships. This study has reviewed various arguments, viewpoints and implications of text messaging relationships. Findings have indicated that there are two important frameworks in exploring electronically-mediated relationships, namely the impersonal and the interpersonal. Previous work in the area of mobile communication technologies proposed that relationship there was task-directed and, as a result, naturally impersonal. It was maintained that the absence of social and nonverbal prompts disabled communicators relating in this setting. Nevertheless, it could be that text messaging relationships basically take longer to grow deeper than those in FTF contexts. Certainly, empirical evidence indicates that individuals do build interpersonal attachments. Furthermore, some think that the reduction of signals is empowering, encouraging them to think that EMC relationships is naturally hyperpersonal. Indeed, there are a number of implications in developing romantic relationships through text messaging. Capable communicators have to be cautious of the possible self-serving prejudice that stems from ignoring the implications of emotional indifference. Prospectively, academics have a great deal to learn about the nature of electronically-mediated relationships. There are several issues that still need to be resolved. For example, communication researchers speculate that interpersonal relationships grow in stages. Does text messaging romantic relationship grow in a similar or distinct manner? We also are aware that individuals engaged in face-to-face relationships make use of several compliance-obtaining techniques so as to convince their partners to accomplish tasks for them. Are there now distinctive techniques that have surfaced among electronically-mediated communicators? Lastly, why and how do these romantic relationships end? Even though there are definite mechanisms that are fairly common across settings, we cannot discount that what we know about FTF interactions is essentially the case in text messaging. Even though there are numerous unresolved issues about text messaging romantic relationships, there are numerous individuals whose interest about these concerns will thrust the pursuit for understanding them ahead. Classification based on the quantity of sent and received text messages despite of age could also be relevant. While this investigation did not delineate between low-volume and high-volume mobile phone users, some researchers have showed that the degree of exposure and usage of a specific media alters views of that media. For instance, researchers of EMC emphasize that internet users who largely read latest news from websites are less irritated by ads appearing before news features than low-volume internet users (Yang, 2004). Another interesting topic for future studies is examination of the standards enforced by users in choosing either voiced chat or text messaging. This form of research could examine when it is regarded suitable to text while improper to initiate a voice call. Furthermore, due to the synchronized private and public domains of mobile communication technologies, additional investigations applying different theories might prove enlightening. Definitely, as the findings of some studies reveal participants purposefully opted texting as a medium since it guarantees a higher degree of privacy and anonymity. This is a relevant discovery which demonstrates the inherent human longing for independence from local contexts and attachment with intimates. The communication privacy management theory of Petronio (2002) derived from a dialectical knowledge of disclosing and hiding, presents a functional paradigm for understanding text messaging user behaviors. Future studies into confidentiality or privacy issues of text messaging users will do well to employ her framework in the domain of romantic relationship development. On the other hand, findings of the analysis disclose that factors such as communication success, trust and intimacy considerably determined EMC relationship satisfaction. Even though it was unexpected that a number of the determining factors did not considerably determine satisfaction, this discovery does disclose that a number of essential face-to-face relational elements also enhanced satisfaction in EMC romantic relationships. When assessing the function of trust in determining EMC relationship success, since individuals depend on their views of their partners when measuring the honesty of their partners, the hyperpersonal framework could give an explanation for comparatively high degrees of trust and the impact of trust on relationship success. Furthermore, those who are unquestioning exercise this trust to determine the behaviors of their partners. Hence, interpretation of a partner could turn out to be a task of discerning belief by which behaviors of a partner are understood as in line with an individual’s constructive expectations. Moreover, one’s prospect for an improved performance in EMC and the growth of an honorable reputation are two primary elements of trust in EMC (Henderson & Gilding, 2004). Hyperpersonal relationship enables for such improved electronically-mediated interactions that consequently cound enable a positive reputation as viewed by an individual’s partner. In addition, intimacy and trust are directly related; as partners become increasingly intimate, trust builds up and as trust develops, so do intensities of intimacy. Wright (2004) discovered that honesty was one of two most frequently exercised maintenance techniques for EMC relationships, which indicates that relational attitudes and behaviors of individuals in text messaging relationships have a tendency to reinforce intimacy, and empirical evidence demonstrates that intimacy grows rapidly in EMC (Hian, Chuan, Trevor, & Detenber, 2004). 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