Self-disclosure Flashcards
Define the term “self-disclosure”
Is when a person reveals intimate personal information about themselves to another person
What is important about self disclosure?
1) Greater closure = greater feelings of intimacy
2) People tend to prefer those who disclose intimate details
3) People disclose more intimate information to those they like and also tend to like those to whom they have revealed intimate information ( Collins and Miller, 1994)
What has research shown about self disclosure?
1) There is a distinction between self-disclosure given and self-disclosure received.
2) Self-disclosure received is more important
3) In a study of 50 dating couples, Sprecher found that the amount of overall disclosure in the relationship was predictive of whether the couples stayed together for longer than four years.
What has research shown about the different types of self-disclosure?
1) It is not self-disclosure per se that predicts relationship satisfaction, but the type of self-disclosure
2) Sprecher found disclosure about personal disappointments, sexual relationships etc have greater influence on relationship satisfaction than the more ‘neutral’ types of self-disclosure.
What are the norms of self-disclosure?
1) The idea of reciprocity - the more one person discloses to another, the more disclosure is expected in return.
2) Norm that people should disclose in only moderate levels of disclosure during early stages of relationship, neither so personal or impersonal.
Who conducted the key study on self-disclosure?
Sprecher et al. (2013)
Outline the procedure of Sprecher’s study on self disclosure
1) 156 undergraduate students paired into two-person dyads.
2) Each dyad of unacquainted individuals engaged in s self-disclosure task over skype.
3) In reciporcal condition, dyad members took turns in disclosing information and asking questions.
4) In the non-reciprocal condition, one person asked the questions in the first interaction while the other person disclosed. Then the two switched roles.
State the findings of Sprecher’s study on self-disclosure
1) Individuals in the reciprocal condition dyads reported more liking, closeness, perceived similarity, and enjoyment of interaction than did those in the non-reciprocal dyads.
2) Thus showing that turn taking self-disclosure reciprocity is more likely to lead to positive interpersonal outcomes than extended reciprocity.
AO3
What is the research support for self-disclosure?
P: Yes, a meta-analysis by Collins and Miller provided research support for the importance of self-disclosure
E: Intimate disclosures = more liked,
Relationship between self-disclosure and liking = stronger if recipient believed that the disclosure was shared with only them rather than others.
E: Self-disclosure important in the development and maintenance of romantic relationships.
AO3
Explain the link between self-disclosure and the ‘boom and bust’ phenomenon
P: Some researchers have found that self-disclosure is greater online than face to face.
E: Internet = anonymous, so greater self-disclosure. Cooper and Sportolari refer to this as boom and bust phenomenon. Boom = people reveal a lot. Bust = difficult to sustain relationship due to no trust (anonymity).
E: Suggest that would explain why many individuals who are certain they have found their ‘soulmate’ online may leave an established relationship to meet people who do not turn out to be what they first seemed.
AO3
What does research show about the norms of self-disclosure and reality TV?
P: Tal-Or and Hershman-Shirtrit (2015) - gradual self-disclosure and attraction relationship also linked to liking reality TV contestants.
E: Self disclosure on reality tv like big brother contradicts with real life.
E: viewers preferred individuals to disclose gradually like real life.
AO3
Is self-disclosure greater online or face-to-face?
P: Research by Knop et al (2016) = challenges view that people disclose more online
E: Self disclosure more = face to face as more intimacy than internet and non verbal cues - absent online
E: Revealing more online may not be as much as expected, contrary to the belief that people disclose too much personal information via the internet.
AO3
Are there cultural differences in self-disclosure?
P: Cultures differ on the topics that are disclosed
E: West = more self-disclosure. Americans > Chinese or Japanese (Chen, 1995). Cultural norms shape how comfortable men and women disclose. Japan men>women, America women>men.
E: This suggests that the importance of self-disclosure as an aspect of attraction is moderated by the influence of culture.
