Self Disclosure

Question 1

What is self disclosure

Answer 1

• revealing intimate details about yourself to others
• romantic relationships develop the more each partner self discloses about themselves

Question 2

Social penetration theory

Answer 2

Altman & Taylor
- process of travelling your inner self to someone
- in romantic relationships it involves reciprocal disclosure
- as disclosure increases partners penetrate deeper into each other lives

Question 3

Breadth and depth

Answer 3

• researchers refer to this as peeling pack layers of an onion

Question 4

Levels of breadth & depth

Answer 4

1. Reveal a lot of superficial info/ on the surface - low risk, breadth, no depth
2. Intimate self disclosure including past history, family fall outs etc
3. Personal self disclosure (deeper) - hopes, desires, past mistakes, insecurities
4. Core self disclosure (real depth) - reveals details buried under the psych - worst fears, guilt, embarrassment

Question 5

Strength
- RWA

Answer 5

• help people who want to improve communication in the relationship
• strengthens the relationship
• Haas & Stafford 57% homosexual men & women felt more secure & deep in their relationship the more disclosed

Question 6

Strength
- research support

Answer 6

Slippert & prager
• 115 ppl answered questionnaires
• kept diaries of interactions
• results showed mutual disclosure expressed more satisfaction w relationship

Question 7

Limitation
- cultural bound

Answer 7

• individualistic cultures (US) self disclose significantly more than collectivist cultures (china)
• levels of satisfaction were no different between the two despite diff levels of disclosure

Question 8

Limitation
- alpha bias

Answer 8

• suggests women find it easier to disclose
• suggests a difference between men & women