Self Disclosure

Question 1

Self-disclosure

Answer 1

Revealing personal information about yourself. Romantic partners reveal more about their true selves as their relationship develops. These self disclosures about one’s deepest thoughts and feelings can strengthen a romantic bond when used appropriately.

Question 2

Social penetration theory

Answer 2

Altman and Taylor - gradual process of revealing your inner self to someone else, where both partners reciprocate.

Question 3

Onion metaphor

Answer 3

• Breadth and Depth are important in SD as these increase commitment. Used metaphor of onion layers.
• We reveal lots of low-risk superficial info first. Moving into intimate details later. Breadth is restricted at first as some topics are ‘off limits’
• As depth increases so can breadth (e.g. painful memories).

Question 4

+ P - SD has real-life application.

Answer 4

E - Hass and Stafford - 57% of gay men and women said that SD was the most vital way they deepened their relationships - helps with those who struggle with communication.
E - The study used only homosexual relationships, not hetero - displaying that there may be differences between certain relationships and comfort levels felt in both.
L - This shows that SD is applicable to real life, although it doesn’t look at both homo and hetero relationships.

Question 5

+ P - Research support for SD

Answer 5

E - Laurenceau et al. - has P’s write diary entries daily and gathered information about SD between partners
E - Found that SD from the self to a partner and the perception of partner’s disclosure correlated with higher levels of intimacy in couples who had been married for a long time.
L - This suggests support for SD as the diary entries proves that SD increases intimacy.

Question 6

• P - There are cultural differences in SD, in particular in reference to breadth and depth in relationships.

Answer 6

E - Tang et al. - reviewed research looking at sexual SD where couples discussed sexual practices.
E - Found that more men and women in the USA disclosed their sexual thoughts than in China. These levels were linked greatly in relationship satisfaction in those certain cultures. This displays differences between collectivist and individualist cultures.
L - This shows that research merely assumes that there is a correlation between sexual self- disclosure and relationship satisfaction.