Development of Interpersonal Relationships

The main goal of this chapter is the analysis of cyber-attraction: the emergence of Computer Mediated Communication (CMC) in the development of interpersonal attraction. According to recent theories and studies, it would seem that not only does CMC support emotional and intensely involving communication between people, but also that it would be characterized by and offer a specific allure, a special element that makes it so fascinating. In particular, different forms of miscommunication implicit, say not to say, and obliquity – play an important role in this process. Starting from this background, the chapter addresses the effects of CMC on interpersonal communication, and especially on the development of interpersonal attraction, aiming at identifying the specific features that this process has in cyberspace. At the same time, the chapter underlines the fact that online and offline are not two separate dimensions to be dealt with separately and almost dichotomously. A broader approach to the study of interpersonal communication in CMC is needed: flexible and complex enough to account for the use of communication strategies in interaction contexts characterized by different levels of virtuality and by the presence of interfaces.