Factors Affecting Attraction: Self-disclosure Flashcards
Why is self-disclosure important early in relationships?
Because it enables partners to understand each other better. For example, revealing your likes and dislikes, hopes and fears, interests and attitudes. We share what really matters to us. Most people are careful about disclosing too much too soon but ultimately self-disclosure is an important element in the development of a relationship.
How does the social penetration theory explain relationship formation?
Through increasing disclosure. Altman and Taylor’s social penetration theory suggests that when a partner reveals person information they display trust. Development of the relationship requires the other partner to also reveal sensitive information.
What does the increasing disclosure allow?
A partner to penetrate into the other persons life which leads to an increasing understanding of the other partner. A recognition that a partner is willing to reveal sensitive information about themselves indicate that the relationship has reached a certain developmental stage.
How does the social penetration theory also explain how self-disclosure develops?
As partners increasingly disclose more information then romantic partners ‘penetrate’ more deeply into each other’s lives, and gain a greater understanding of each other.
How are the breadth and depth of self disclosure related to the length of the relationship?
Both breadth and depth of self disclosure are key according to social penetration theory. At the start of a relationship much is revealed but the breadth is narrow and the content superficial as we try to avoid off-limits subjects. If too much information is revealed this may be off-putting and one partner may decide to quit the relationship.
What happens as the relationship develops?
We are more likely to reveal more intimate information including painful memories, secrets, etc.
What does there need to be in order for a relationship to develop?
Reciprocity of self-disclosure. Reid and Shaver suggests that in addition to the broadening and deepening of self disclosure, there must also be reciprocity. Successful relationships will involve disclosure which is received sensitively by a partner and also leads to further disclosure from the other partner.
One strength of social penetration theory is support from research studies.
Sprecher and Hendrick found strong correlations between several measures of satisfaction and self disclosure in heterosexual couples. Men and women who used self-disclosure and those who believed their partners also disclosed were more satisfied with and committed to their romantic relationship. This supports the concept of self-disclosure being a key component of committed romantic relationships.
A strength of the social penetration theory is that it has real life applications.
Hass and Stafford found that 57% of gay men and women in their study said that open and honest self-disclosure was a maintenance strategy. Couples used to ‘small talk’ can be encouraged to increase self-disclosure in order to deepen their own relationships. This highlights the importance of self-disclosure and suggests the theory can be used to support people having relationship problems.
One limitation is that it does not apply to all cultures.
Tang et al concluded that men and women in the US (individualistic culture) self-disclose significantly more sexual thoughts and feelings than women and men in China (collectivist culture). Both levels of self-disclosure are linked to relationship satisfaction in those cultures but nevertheless the pattern of self-disclosure is different. Social penetration theory is therefore a limited explanation of romantic relationships and not necessarily generalisable to other cultures.
Limitation: self-disclosure is linked to relationship breakdown too.
Sometimes breakdown of relationships is characterised by a reduction in self-disclosure, however this is not always the case. Duck’s phase model of breakdown of relationships recognises that couples often discuss their relationship with each other in intimate detail (i.e. Self-disclose) yet this may not be sufficient to save the relationship. This suggests that increased self-disclosure may not always lead to positive developments in a relationship.
Limitation: much of the research is correlational.
Studies such as Sprecher and Henrick have found a positive correlation between self-disclosure and satisfaction. However, we cannot assume that the relationship is a causal one. This suggests that such research provides only limited support for the theory.
