Relationships: FAA - Self Disclosure Flashcards
Self-disclosure
Revealing personal information to another person
Who came up with social penetration theory?
Altman and Taylor
What is STP?
How relationships develop through gradual process of revealing inner self to someone and giving away deep thoughts/feelings
Characteristics of STP
Gradual process
Revealing personal info = sign Of trust means relationship stronger
What must a partner do in STP?
Reciprocate revealing personal info
What does reciprocating imply?
Partner willing to reveal personal info indicates relationship has reached certain developmental stage
More disclosure means?
Deeper penetration into each other’s lives
Greater understanding of each other is gained
What is key according to STP?
Breadth and depth of self-disclosure
Onion analogy - start
Start of relationship:
breadth is narrow
Information overload may be off-putting
Onion analogy - development
Depth increases
more likely to reveal intimate information inc secrets/painful memories
What happens as both depth and breadth increase?
Romantic partners become more committed to one another
What is revealed early on in a relationship?
Low risk information
What is revealed as the relationship progresses?
High risk information
Reid and Shaver
Argue there must be reciprocity in addition to broadening and deepening to self disclose
Key idea: must be balance of self disclosure from both partners in successful relationship
A03 STP support: Sprecher and Hendrick procedure
Studied heterosexual dating couples