Extending the Hyperpersonal Model to Observing Others: The Hyperperception Model

Much of our Social Network Site (SNS) and associated mobile application use involves observing and interpreting other people’s online presentations and interactions. This paper proposes an extension of the hyperpersonal model (Walther, 1996), called the hyperperception model, which can be used to explain and predict the potential psychological and relational effects that result from observing other people interact on SNSs and mobile apps. In this new model the observer of other people’s online interactions is the focus rather than the original hyperpersonal’s focus on the dyad. Hyperperception effects occur when an observer perceives higher intensity in others’ SNS interactions than those observed perceive. Following the hyperpersonal model, this extension identifies channel, sender, receiver, and feedback loop components that encourage hyperperceptions of others’ relationship by observers on SNSs. Applications to a variety of interpersonal phenomena are discussed.