Chapter12: Communication Privacy Management Theory

Social Penetration Theory

Focuses on self-disclosure as the primary way to develop close relationships

Communication Privacy Management Theory

A description of how people handle their private info

Privacy

“The feeling one has the right to to own private info”

Rule-based Theory

People have rules for managing their private info

Mutual Privacy Boundaries

Collective boundaries that shape people together

Boundary Ownership

Who decides?

Deliberate confidant

Intentionally seeks private info (i.e doctors)

Reluctant confidant

Didn’t want or expect disclosure

Shareholder

One fully vested in keeping info according to original owner’s privacy rules

Stakeholder

One who deserves access and control

Boundary linkage

Who else gets to know?

Boundary permeability

How much info can flow?

Boundary turbulence

Relationships at risk

Fuzzy boundaries

No recognized or mutual boundaries and a vague idea of patient’s expectations, advocates use their own privacy rules to guide what they day

Intentional boundaries

Those who blab the secret

Confidentiality dilemma

Tragic moral choice confidants face when they must reach a collective privacy boundary to promote original owner’s welfare

Private info

Content of potential disclosures; info that can be owned

Collective Privacy Boundary

An intersection of personal privacy boundaries of co-owners of private info, all of whom are responsible for the info