Factors affecting attraction Flashcards
What is self-disclosure?
Self-disclosure is the act of revealing personal information about the self to another person.
What factors influence the nature of self-disclosure?
- The person to whom the details are disclosed
- The stage of the relationship
- The person who is disclosing the information
- The nature of the details being disclosed
- The reasons behind the self-disclosure
True or False: Self-disclosure is a set and stable type of communication.
False
What does Social Penetration Theory (SPT) describe?
SPT describes the process of self-disclosure, beginning with shallow levels of disclosure and gradually progressing deeper.
List the four levels of self-disclosure according to SPT.
- Superficial self-disclosure
- Intimate self-disclosure
- Personal self-disclosure
- Core self-disclosure
What is an example of superficial self-disclosure?
Details of where someone lives, their job, their hobbies.
What characterizes core self-disclosure?
Real depth and possibly less breadth; details buried deep within the psyche.
What does Social Comparison Theory (SCT) suggest?
SCT suggests individuals assess their own worth and value by comparing themselves to others.
What is upward comparison?
Upward comparison occurs when someone feels that others are superior to them.
What is downward comparison?
Downward comparison occurs when someone feels that others are inferior to them.
How does self-disclosure affect relationships according to SPT?
Self-disclosure is essential for a relationship to develop and thrive.
Fill in the blank: Self-disclosure is a kind of ______ that holds a relationship together.
glue
What risk does self-disclosure pose in relationships?
It can lead to inequality in terms of trust if one person discloses and the other does not.
What is one finding from Collins & Miller (1994)?
Self-disclosure plays an important role in the maintenance of relationships.
What cultural differences were found in self-disclosure according to Tang et al. (2013)?
American couples reported making more intimate/sexual disclosures than couples in China.
What is a strength of self-disclosure?
It has good application in guiding relationship counseling.
What is a weakness of self-disclosure theories?
They do not explain how some relationships remain healthy despite differing levels of disclosure.
Self-disclosure falls under which side of the determinism/free will debate?
Free will side
