2) Self Disclosure

Define self disclosure?

The process of sharing information about yourself, based on idea that relationship formation is built on trust with another person.

• Learning about the other partner is important- particularly in the early days.

• Sharing likes, dislikes, hopes, fears, interests and attitudes.

  • We like people more.

  • Understand each other more.

Who created social penetration theory?

Altman and Taylor

Describe social penetration theory?

ALTMAN AND TAYLOR:
Social Penetration Theory (SPT) uses self-disclosure to explain how interpersonal relationships develop over time.

• Gradual exchange of information.

  • Increase of trust, understanding, intimacy and satisfaction.

• Moving from superficial levels of communication to deeper more intimate levels.

Reciprocity is vital.

Describe what breadth and depth mean in terms of the onion metaphor of self disclosure, and who created this theory?

ALTMAN AND TAYLOR:

The Onion Metaphor:

Self disclosure was described as peeling back the layers of an onion.

BREADTH refers to the range of topics that are discussed.

• In the early stages of a relationship, people tend to discuss a wide variety of topics.

DEPTH refers to the level of personal significance or intimacy of the topics discussed.

Describe how breadth and depth develop in terms of the onion metaphor for self disclosure?

At the beginning of the relationship, there is a lot of low risk, superficial information.

Eventually, we are ready to reveal intimate ‘high risk’ information.

• Both increase as trust is established.

Describe what may cause a relationship breakdown due to self disclosure?

If partners are dissatisfied due to a lack of reciprocity, then they disclose less until they are gradually disengaged from the relationship (de-penetration).

Describe how reciprocity relates to self-disclosure?

REIS AND SHAVER:

Reciprocity cannot be all about receiving information.

• When an individual reveals something, hopefully the partner will respond in a way that is rewarding.

  • Results in greater intimacy going forward.

Evaluate the strengths of self disclosure?

STRENGTH: RESEARCH SUPPORT

SPRECHER AND HENDRICK:

Studied heterosexual couples who were dating, and found that as self-disclosure increased, so did relationship satisfaction.

LAURENCEAU ET AL:
Asked participants to write daily diary entries about progress in their relationships.

• They found that self-disclosure and perception of disclosure in a partner led to greater feelings of intimacy in a couple and vice versa- those with less had lower intimacy.

Such supporting research increases our confidence in the validity of self disclosure as a factor leading to more satisfying relationships.

STRENGTH: REAL WORLD APPLICATION

The concept of self-disclosure has strong everyday life applications.

• E.G: It could be used in relationship counselling to help people improve their communication skills.

Evaluate the limitations of self disclosure?

LIMITATION: ISSUES AND DEBATES

Social penetration theory was developed based on research in a western. individualist culture, so it may not apply to collectivist cultures.

TANG ET AL:
Found that men and women in the USA tended to disclose more sexual thoughts and feelings than romantic partners in China.

• However, despite this, the level of relationship satisfaction was high in both cultures.

This shows that self disclosure is not a requirement for successful relationships in all cultures.

• This suggests that other factors (e.g: physical attractiveness ) could have an equal if not greater impact.

Thus, social penetration theory is culturally biased.

LIMITATION: SELF-DISCLOSURE AND BREAKDOWN

According to SPT, relationships become more satisfying as disclosure increases.

DUCK (2007):

Identified that when couples relationships are deteriorating, one partner tends to self disclose more often and more deeply.

• Therefore, the research on relationship breakdown challenges social penetration theory because deeper self disclosure does not lead to a deeper relationship in these circumstances.