Chapter 8: Social Penetration Theory

Question 1

Social exchange theory:

Answer 1

an economic theory based on costs and rewards

Question 2

What theory does social penetration draw on?

Answer 2

social exchange theory

Question 3

Social penetration:

Answer 3

the process (ongoing) of developing deeper intimacy with another person through mutual self-disclosure and other forms of vulnerability

Question 4

Alternative description of SP theory by West & Turner:

Answer 4

social penetration is a process of bonding that moves a relationship from superficial to more intimate

Question 5

Alternative description of SP theory by Baldwin:

Answer 5

self-disclosure is what drives relationships closer, but we weigh the threat of vulnerability and the discomfort of sharing before we self-disclose to a stranger

Question 6

Depth:

Answer 6

knowing a lot of information about a specific area

Question 7

Reciprocity:

Answer 7

people tend to match their disclosures on breadth and depth

Question 8

Does reciprocity reign early on?

Answer 8

yes

Question 9

Is penetration (giving information) slow at the start?

Answer 9

no, penetration is rapid at the start and slows down as we get closer to the center (more vulnerable information)

Question 10

When does depenetration happen?

Answer 10

as one or both people pull away from disclosing information

Question 11

Breadth:

Answer 11

knowing about a range of different areas

Question 12

Do we know more of depth or breadth about the people we know best?

Answer 12

both

Question 13

What are the four parts of the Johari Window?

Answer 13

• open self
• blind self
• hidden self
• unknown self

Question 14

Open self:

Answer 14

information about you that both you and others know

Question 15

Blind self:

Answer 15

information about you that others know but you don’t know

Question 16

Hidden self:

Answer 16

information about you that you know, but hide from others

Question 17

Unknown self:

Answer 17

information about you that neither you nor others know

Question 18

What are the [five] stages of self-disclosure?

Answer 18

• orientation
• exploratory affective exchange
• affective exchange
• stable exchange
• de-penetration

Question 19

Orientation:

Answer 19

revealing bit by bit

Question 20

Exploratory affective exchange:

Answer 20

our personality emerges and we explore emotional exchanges

Question 21

Affective exchange:

Answer 21

committed and comfortable

Question 22

Stable exchange:

Answer 22

raw honestly and intimacy

Question 23

De-penetration:

Answer 23

pulling away, less disclosure

Question 24

What stage of self-disclosure is considered the peak of a relationship?

Answer 24

stable exchange

Question 25

Do all relationships have to go through the stages of self-disclosure?

Answer 25

no - and those that do are not always romantic

Question 26

What does Altman suggest the social penetration model includes?

Answer 26

a dialectical tension

Question 27

When can dialectical tension happen?

Answer 27

at any stage of self-disclosure

Question 28

Why does dialectical tension happen?

Answer 28

people want privacy but they also want intimacy in their relationships

Question 29

What type of theory is Social Penetration theory?

Answer 29

Objective

Question 30

Which tradition(s) does Social Penetration theory represent?

Answer 30

socio-psychological

Question 31

Who are the authors of the Social Penetration theory?

Answer 31

Altman & Taylor

Question 32

Social Penetration theory represents the _____ tradition and is a(n) _____ theory.

Answer 32

socio-psychological, objective

Question 33

Social penetration theory says we regulate closeness based on rewards and costs. From which theory is this idea borrowed?

Answer 33

Social exchange theory

Question 34

Social Penetration theory: the authors of this theory suggest that penetration

Answer 34

is rapid at the start but slows down as it gets more intimate

Question 35

Social penetration theory uses the ____ as a model for explaining behavior.

Answer 35

onion

Question 36

Social Penetration Theory: As we discussed the stages of self-disclosure, we carefully noted that these stages only referenced romantic relationships and that the stages occurred in a definitive, linear pattern

Answer 36

false.

Question 37

Social Penetration Theory: We discussed _____ in class as an example of what might occur in the Stable Exchange stage of SPT.

Answer 37

idiolects (inside jokes)