Self-Disclosure

Question 1

What is self-disclosure?

Answer 1

Revealing personal information about oneself to another.​

A vital role in a relationship beyond the initial attraction, but most people are careful about what they disclose to begin with. ​

Question 2

What does self-disclosure do to relationships?

Answer 2

Used wisely and affectively it can help the course of true love run smoothly.​

Question 3

What happens as a romantic relationship develops?

(Self-disclosure)

Answer 3

Romantic partners reveal more about their true selves.

These self-disclosures about one’s deepest thoughts and feelings can strengthen a romantic bond when used appropriately.​

Question 4

Who created the Social Penetration Theory in 1973?

Answer 4

Altman and Taylor.

Question 5

What does the Social Penetration Theory state?

Answer 5

States how relationships develop.​

Self-disclosure is a major concept within the theory.

Question 6

What is the Social Penetration Theory? What would it be like for romantic relationships?

Answer 6

The gradual process of revealing your inner self to someone else, of giving away your deepest thoughts and feelings.​

In romantic relationships it involves the reciprocal exchange of information between intimate partners.​

Question 7

What happens when someone displays personal information to someone? What must happen for the relationship to further?

(Self-disclosure)

Answer 7

They display trust.

To go further the other person must also reveal some personal information.​

Question 8

When two romantic partners disclose information to each other, what happens?

(Self-disclosure)

Answer 8

They ‘penetrate’ more deeply into each other’s lives, and gain a greater understanding of each other.​

Question 9

What is a basic feature of romantic relationships?

Answer 9

Self-disclosure.

Question 10

Why can self-disclosure be difficult?

Answer 10

It can be difficult to bear one’s soul to a relative stranger.

Question 11

If two people engage in self-disclosure, what does this suggest about the relationship?

Answer 11

It has reached a certain stage where such self-disclosure is welcomed and reciprocated.​

Question 12

According to Altman and Taylor, what are the two elements of self-disclosure?

Answer 12

Breadth and depth.

Question 13

In a romantic relationship, what happens when self-disclosure increases?

Answer 13

Romantic partners become more committed to each other.

Question 14

What metaphor do researchers use to demonstrate the process of self-disclosure?

Answer 14

The many layers of an onion.

Question 15

What is revealed first in self-disclosure?

Answer 15

First, we disclose a lot about ourselves.

This is superficial, mostly ‘on the surface’, information.

It’s low risk information we can reveal to anyone, friends, work colleagues, even acquaintances.​

Question 16

What may be narrow at during the early stages of a relationship? Why?

(Self-disclosure)

Answer 16

Breath of disclosure.

This is because may topics are ‘off limits’ in the early stages of a relationship.

Question 17

Breadth of disclosure is narrow at the start of a relationship. What happens if we reveal to much too soon?

(Self-disclosure)

Answer 17

Potentially put off the partner in pursuing the relationship, as it demonstrates that you might be unaware as to what is and what isn’t suitable during initial discussion.

This could threaten the relationship before it’s had a chance to start.​

Question 18

What happens as the relationship develops?

(Self-disclosure)

Answer 18

Self-disclosure becomes deeper.

Progressively removing more and more and more layers to reveal our true selves and encompassing a wider range of topics.

These concern the things that matter most to us.​

Question 19

What happens during the final developmental stages of self-disclosure?

Answer 19

The revealing of intimate, high risk information.

Question 20

What types of things are spoken about in the final developmental stages of self-disclosure?

Answer 20

Painful memories and experiences.

Strongly-held beliefs.

Powerful feelings.

Secrets (maybe the odd lie).​

Question 21

What are the four factors that affect the relationship between self-disclosure and attraction?

Answer 21

Appropriateness of disclosure​.

Attributes of the disclosure​.

Gender differences​.

Content of the disclosure​.

Question 22

Outline appropriateness of disclosure as a factors that affects the relationship between self-disclosure and attraction. Give an example.

(Appropriateness of disclosure)

Answer 22

Sometimes disclosing personal information is inappropriate, for example doing so on a first date may be viewed as over the top.

Question 23

If someone is inappropriate with the information they are disclosing, what may this indicate? What else?

(Appropriateness of disclosure)

Answer 23

This could be an indication that a person is maladjusted and lacking social skills.​

However, it could also be a sign of nerves, perhaps over sharing may just be due to first experiences.

Question 24

Someone may disclose inappropriate information at the start of a relationship. How could this link to the cognitive approach?

(Appropriateness of disclosure)

Answer 24

Ideas of schemas, perhaps these are misaligned.

Question 25

Someone may disclose inappropriate information at the start of a relationship. How could this link the attachment topic?

(Appropriateness of disclosure)

Answer 25

Internal working model, not opening up as previous relationships have been negative, initial ‘blueprint’ wrong.

Question 26

Someone may disclose inappropriate information at the start of a relationship. How could this link the psychopathology topic?

(Appropriateness of disclosure)

Answer 26

Deviation from social norms, their expressed behaviour is seen as abnormal.

Question 27

Outline ‘attributes of disclosure’ as a factor that affects the relationship between self-disclosure and attraction.

(Attributes of disclosure)

Answer 27

The reasons we believe a person is self-disclosing to us are important.

Question 28

How may ‘attributes of disclosure’ create less attraction?

(Attributes of disclosure)

Answer 28

If an individual is seen as the kind of person who discloses personal information to everyone, or is someone self-disclosing because the situation is seen as lending itself to self-disclosure. ​

Question 29

How may ‘attributes of disclosure’ create greater attraction?

(Attributes of disclosure)

Answer 29

If we believe an individual sees us as someone they especially want to disclose intimate information to.​

Question 30

Outline ‘gender differences’ as a factors that affects the relationship between self-disclosure and attraction.

(Gender differences)

Answer 30

Women generally are seen as better communicators of and more interested in intimate information.

Therefore self-disclosures by males may be seen as less appropriate than those by females.

Alternatively, self-disclosure by a male may be seen as very rewarding.​

Question 31

Why are gender differences in self-disclosure and relationships important?

(Gender differences)

Answer 31

Indicates that he wants to disclose personal information to her.​

Males may not be used to self-disclosure and may feel threatened by females disclosing intimate details​.

Question 32

Outline ‘content of disclosure’ as a factor that affects the relationship between self-disclosure and attraction.

(Content of disclosure)

Answer 32

Although intimate disclosures are seen favourably, disclosure of highly intimate information may be seen as inappropriate and as violating social norms, especially if this relationship is in the early stages.​

Question 33

What happens if someone violates the social norms of content disclosure? What would the ideal level of self-disclosure be?

(Content of disclosure)

Answer 33

Decrease in attraction, as recipient of the information may feel threatened or may not know how to respond. ​

Moderate.​

Question 34

Outline the study completed by Ajzen in 1977.

Answer 34

Sees self- disclosure more as a product of information processing, where liking someone comes from having positive perceptions of a person.

Therefore people who self-disclose personal information to us are seen favourably as likeable, trustworthy and kind.​

Question 35

Outline the study completed by Tang et al in 2013.

Answer 35

Reviewed research literature regarding sexual self-disclosure (that is disclosures related to feelings about specific sexual practices).

They concluded that men and women in the USA self-disclose significantly more sexual thoughts and feelings than men and women in China.

Both these levels of self-disclosure are linked to relationship satisfaction in those cultures​.

Question 36

Outline the study completed by Altman and Taylor in 1973.

Answer 36

Supports the idea of self-disclosure and social penetration theory.

This is because increased in the breadth and depth of information shared is rewarding, signalling there is a mutual relationship.

This links to ideas of social exchange, supporting attraction is a product of the rewarding outcomes provided.

Question 37

Outline the study completed by Kleinke in 1979.

Answer 37

Supports the idea of self-disclosure and social penetration theory, as the sharing of limited important information to someone makes them feel significant.

This suggests that attribution for disclosure is an important factor for self-disclosure.

Question 38

Wortman et al supported Kleinke’s study from 1979. What did they believe?

Answer 38

They believed that there was an increase in trust when intimate information was shared - increasing the favourability of the individual.

Question 39

Is the filter theory and ideas of self-disclosure the only things that are going to affect attraction?

Answer 39

No, other factors may be influencing, such as:

Individual differences.
Biological/ genetic factors.
Evolutionary explanations.
Ideas about ‘love at first sight’.

Question 40

Where would self-disclosure fit in with the filter theory?

Answer 40

Self-disclosure aligns with many areas of the filter theory.

Basic information that may be told to everyone would sit in the first and second filter e.g. location, ethnicity, social class, and religion.

More intimate information would sit in the fourth filter e.g. those affecting each other’s emotional needs.