Psychology - Relationships - Factors affecting attraction: Self disclosure

Question 1

Self disclosure

Answer 1

Revealing personal information about yourself. Romantic partners reveal more about themselves as the relationship develops and can strengthen a bond when used appropriately

Question 2

Who developed social penetration theory?

Answer 2

Altman and Taylor (1973)

Question 3

Social Penetration Theory

Answer 3

About how relationships develop. The gradual process of revealing your inner self to someone else and involves reciprocity, indicating trust

Question 4

What are the two elements of self disclosure?

Answer 4

breadth and depth

Question 5

What increases along with the breadth and depth of social disclosure?

Answer 5

the commitment of both partners

Question 6

How do Altman and Taylor describe breadth and depth?

Answer 6

Like the many layers of an onion. As we peel the onion we reveal more about ourselves, happening gradually overtime as too much too soon may be TMI

Question 7

Reis and Shaver (1988) - reciprocity of self-disclosure

Answer 7

For a relationship to develop there needs to be reciprocity in disclosure. The partner responds with empathy and their own thoughts. A balance of self disclosure increases intimacy

Question 8

What are the strengths of self disclosure?

Answer 8

• Support for social penetration theory. Sprecher and Hendrick (2004). Sprecher (2013) - Practical value in helping partners. Haas and Stafford (1998)

Question 9

Sprecher and Hendrick (2004)

Answer 9

Studied heterosexual dating couples and found strong correlations between several measures of satisfaction and self disclosure. Supported by Sprecher et al’s (2013) further study

Question 10

Sprecher et al (2013)

Answer 10

Confirmed the reciprocity of self disclosure as a factor to satisfying relationships. Increased validity of the theory that self disclosure needs reciprocity

Question 11

Haas and Stafford (1998)

Answer 11

Found that 57% of homosexual men and women said that open and honest self disclosure was the main way they maintained and deepened relationships

Question 12

What are the weaknesses of self disclosure?

Answer 12

• Research is correlational, so cause and effect not identified - Not applicable for all cultures Nu Tang et al (2013)

Question 13

Nu Tang et al (2013)

Answer 13

Reviewed research into sexual self disclosure and concluded men and women in the US self disclose more than men and women in China and levels of satisfaction were no different