Relationships(factors affecting attraction - Self disclosure)

Question 1

Research on the idea of self disclosure on potential mates -

Answer 1

Research from Sprecher has concluded the level of disclosure received in a romantic relationship was a better predictor of liking and loving than the level of disclosure that is given. The research has also shown that self disclosure was positively related to relationship stability.

Question 1

Self disclosure - (brief)

Answer 1

When a person reveals intimate personal information about themselves to another person.

Question 2

Types of self disclosure -

Answer 2

Sprecher found that the type of self disclosure is important in influencing romantic feelings. For example self disclosing about ones inner fears and fantasies or about their favourite music are quite different. He found that when they gave experiences of personal disappointments and information about previous sexual relationships had a greater influence on relationships satisfaction.

Question 3

Norm of self disclosure -

Answer 3

A norm may suggest that a person on a first encounter or date should only engage in a moderate level of self disclosure during the early stages of a relationship. Suggested that they should not either be too personal about revealing. Nor that the self disclosure is only little so the person is unable to a know a person better as a result of the conversation.

Question 4

Support for the importance of self disclosure -

Answer 4

Meta analysis of Collins and Miller shows the importance of it in the maintenance and development of romantic relationships. People who engage in intimate disclosure are more likely to be liked compared to people who disclose at lower levels. People like others as a result of disclosing to them. Also found that the relationship between disclosure and liking was stronger if the recipient believed that the information was shared only with them and not others.

Question 5

Cultural differences of patterns of self disclosure -

Answer 5

Cultures differ in the extent of which various topics are considered appropriate to the conversation. Western people tend to engage in higher and more intimate levels of self disclosure compared to non-westerners. This can be explained from what is expected in cultural norms for example in Japan, Japanese women prefer lower levels of personal conversations than Japanese men. So therefore some relationships look for the opposite of self disclosure and suggest it as influential factor in determining relationships.