2) Self Disclosure

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9 Terms

1

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.

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2

Who created social penetration theory?

Altman and Taylor

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3

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.

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4

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.

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5

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.

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6

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).

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7

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.

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8

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.

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9

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.

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