Advantages and Disadvantages of Technology in Relationships: Findings from an Open-Ended Survey

The technology world has been growing and flourishing the interest in designing technologies that mediate and create a feeling of relatedness within interpersonal relationships beyond the explicit verbal communication (Hassenzahl, Heidecker, Eckoldt, Diefenbach, & Hillman, 2002). Yet communication technologies such as cell phones, the Internet, and social networking sites still have gained a central feature in people's lives as tools for establishing and maintaining these relationships (Bergdall, Kraft, Andes, Hatfield-Timajchy, & Hock-Long, 2012). For instance, Bargh & McKenna stated that over a billion text messages are sent through mobile phones around the world every day (as cited in Coyne, Stockdale, Busby, Iverson, & Grant, 2011). With such advances of technology and communication, it changes how we relate to one another and the affect it has on relationships. Couples cite, for example, the importance of accessibility of one's spouse when there is an emergency situation, when one partner is reaching out for contact, or if a partner is experiencing stress and needed reassurances or emotional soothing (Parker, Blackburn, Perry, & Hawks, 2012). Reviews of the research indicate online gaming may contribute to a couple's ability to fantasize in their relationship, acquire/improve socialization skills, and an ability to better understand their partner's context (Hertlein, 2012). On the other hand, technology introduces a potential to misinterpret messages between patterns may create barriers in problem solving and intimacy development (Henline & Harris, 2006). For example, online gaming in relationships may disrupt intimacy processes and introduce feelings of exclusion from one area of their partner's life, potentially resulting in perceived neglect and jealousy (Hawkins & Hertlein, 2013; Hertlein & Hawkins, 2012). Whitty (2003) found that if a partner's computer is left accessible or a spouse's password is known, partners will often engage in investigatory behaviors that lead to the discovery of infidelity activities. In addition, social networking sites such as one of the most popular sites, Facebook, also introduce a potential to misinterpret messages and provide access to users to post messages on another's profiles, comment on one another's photographs, send private messages, and chat online. Lumpkin (2012) stated that 33% of divorce cases mentioned Facebook in 2011 while the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers stated that the top Facebook concerns are inappropriate messages to individuals of the opposite sex (as cited in Cravens, Leckie, & Whiting, 2013). Furthermore, users are able to easily access their social networking sites at work or home without promoting suspicion or getting into trouble due to the privacy kept from others. Despite the potential disadvantages of the use of technology, it also provides unique opportunities for couples to connect to satisfy both function and emotional needs (Parker et al., 2012). For instance, Pettigrew (2009) found that specific use of text messaging provided couples the ability to stay connected throughout the day based in interviews of dyads that were dating, engaged, married, or cohabiting. Most all couples interviewed perceived the use of text messages as a useful way of staying connected to their partner and provided an enriched or increase in their communication. Pettigrew (2009) also found that text-based nature of text messages allows for information to be communicated without those around the sender or receiver overhearing, which can affect the increase of intimacy and the feeling of closeness with one's partner. Similarly, one study by Coyne, Stockdale, Busby, Iverson, and Grant (2011) explored the communication technologies individuals within romantic relationships were using to communicate with one another, its frequency of use, and the association between the use of these technologies and couple's positive and negative communication. …