Self disclosure Flashcards
Self disclosure
When a person reveals intimate personal info ; important in process of developing romantic relationships with greater disclosure leading to greater feelings of intimacy
People tend to prefer those who disclose intimate details to those who disclose to a lesser extent
Given/Received
Sprecher at al distinguishes between self disclosure given + received ; the level of received in a relationship was a better predictor of linking and loving than given
Correlation
Self disclosure was also positively related to relationship stability ; in a study of 50 dating couples the amount of overall disclosure in the relationship was predictive of whether the couples stayed together for longer than 4 years
Forms of SD
SD takes different forms for example disclosing taste in music and inner fears are different ; therefore its the type that predicts relationship satisfaction
Sprecher
Found disclosure about experiences e.g past relationships have greater influence than ‘neutral’ types of SD
Norms
There is a norm that people should engage in only a moderately personal level of SD in the early stages of the relationship
The norm of reciprocity governs social behaviour ;people expect others to return the service they provide ; Berg + Archer found there is a norm of reciprocity with SD - the more one discloses the more expected in return
*Key study: Sprecher et al
156 students at a US university
Paired into 2 person dyads ; two thirds were female-female ,one third were male-female
Engaged in SD task over skype
Reciprocal condition - took turns asking questions + disclosing
Non- reciprocal - one person asked question then other disclosed then switched roles
Findings
Reciprocal condition- dyads reported more liking, closeness, similarity and enjoyment than non reciprocal
Difference remained when dyads switched
Shows that turn taking SD reciprocity is more likely to lead to positive interpersonal outcomes than extended reciprocity
