2) factors effecting attraction: self disclosure

What is self disclosure

The extent to which a person reveals personal information about themselves such as intimate thoughts, feelings, experiences.

Why is self disclosure an important aspect of romantic relationships?

The greater the disclosure the greater the feeling of intimacy. Because people reveal more intimate information to those they like and tend to like those who reveal more intimate information to them in return

Who came up with the social penetration theory?

Altman and Taylor (1973)

What does the social penetration theory outline?

That there are two dimensions to self disclosure. Breath and depth. Breadth: the range of topics covered which usually expands first in a relationship. Depth: the degree of private or personal information. It is more difficult to reach and includes painful memories. Both are crucial in developing a fully intimate relationship

Who came up with reciprocity?

Reis and Shaver (1988)

What does the reciprocity theory outline?

For a relationship to develop, there needs to be a reciprocal element to disclosure. The norm is that self Disclosure should not be a one way process

What happens if we reveal too much information too soon in a relationship?

If we reveal too much too soon we threaten the progress of the relationship but as the relationship develops self disclosure becomes deeper.

What research support is there for the importance of reciprocal self disclosure?

Sprencher et al (2013) paired unacquainted student volunteers and asked to them to talk over Skype. A reciprocal group took turns in asking questions and disclosing. A non-reciprocal group had one of the pair asking questions and the other answering before swapping roles

What do findings of Sprencher et al (2013) show?

That liking, closeness, and enjoyment were higher in the reciprocal group that the non reciprocal

Why may the self disclosure theory me ethnocentric?

Cultures tend to differ in the importance they place on personal self disclosure. Western cultures typically disclose more than non-western cultures. Women disclose more than men. However Nakanishi (1986) found that Japanese women prefer much lower level of disclosure than Japanese women which is opposite to self disclose pattern in western cultures

Why may self disclosure be an effect, not a course?

People may disclose more because they already trust and feel close to their partner. This challenges the idea that self-disclosure necessarily causes intimacy to develop. Therefore, the theory may explain how relationships are maintained or deepen rather than fully explaining how they initially form.