Self-fulfilling prophecies: Perceived reality of online interaction drives expected outcomes of online communication

Individuals differ in the extent to which they believe online communication can contribute to the growth of close relationships - a concept defined as the perceived reality of online interactions. Perceived reality may function as a self-fulfilling prophecy: individuals who have positive attitudes toward online interactions will make behavioral choices that lead to positive outcomes. A sample of 207 undergraduates was assigned to a hypothetical online or face-to-face interaction with a stranger. In the online condition, levels of perceived reality predicted willingness to self-disclose and to provide social support within the interaction, which in turn predicted positive expectations of the interaction's success. This research reinforces the importance of studying users' attitudes as predictors of the outcomes of online interaction.