Self Disclosure 🤬 Flashcards
What is self disclosure
The revealing Of personal information like thoughts, feelings and experiences to another person
What is self disclosure a central concept in?
It is a central concept in social penetration theory proposed by Altman and Taylor. This theory claims that by gradually revealing emotions and experiences to their partner, couples gain a greater understanding of each other and display trust. Therefore self disclosure will increase attraction
What happens when couples build trust
The breadth and depth of the self disclosure will increase. At the start, people will only disclose superficial details about themselves like hobbies and interests, but gradually reveal more intimate details such as family values and difficult experiences. Self disclosing too quickly can reduce attraction.
What do people expect
The same level of self disclosure from others as they actually give. The more self disclosure one gives, the more self disclosure they expect in return. This is reciprocal self disclosure
Strengthens of self disclosure
Altman and Taylor support self disclosure theory. They found that self disclosure on the first date is inappropriate and did not increase attraction levels. The person who was self disclosing was seen as maladjusted and not likeable
Tal-Or has research support of self disclosure being a gradual process that affects romantic relationships. Analysis of reality tv shows like big brother revealed that viewers did not like contestants who self disclosed early on. They preferred those who did it gradually
Kito has research evidence of self disclosure across different cultures. Kito investigated Japanese and American students in different types of relationships, and found that self disclosure was high for Japanese and American students in romantic relationships that were heterosexual supporting the idea that it is universal and a strong factor in determining attraction
Weakness sex
Sprecher found research that the level of self disclosure received is the best predictor of liking or loving that the amount of self disclosure given. This goes against the idea of reciprocal self disclosure
It seems unlikely that attraction to a potential partner is based on self disclosure alone. Self disclosure may be important but other factors are needed to increase attraction such as physical attraction, similarity fo attitudes and complementarity of needs
What is the study for self disclosure
Sprecher investigated if reciprocal self disclosure or one sided self disclosure was more important when determining attraction in relationships. 156 unknown American undergrads were out into pairs with 66% female to female and 33% male to female. Each pair engaged in a self disclosure task on Skype. Some pairs did reciprocal self disclosure, some did one sided self disclosure. Participants were then assessed on a range of factors about the interaction they had experienced, including factors like liking, closeness.
What were the findings of Sprechers study
It found that reciprocal self disclosure leads to more liking, closeness and perceived similarity and enjoyment than those in non reciprocal groups. Therefore reciprocal self disclosure is important in forming attraction
Eval of Sprecher
Criticised as self disclosure was measured using Skype rather than direct face to face communication that would occur in a real date. Therefore it could be argued thag using Skype might distort/interfere with the quality of self disclosure perhaps casuing a study to lack validity when seeing how self disclosure affects attraction
Can be supported by theory proposed by Altman and Taylor about reciprocal self disclosure. It seems that self disclosure is only successful when two people both self disclose equally to each other.
However culturally biased as American only cuh. Self disclosure may different in different cultures
