self disclosute Flashcards
What is self-disclosure?
Self-disclosure is when an individual reveals information about themselves to another person. People tend to disclose more information to those they like and like people who reveal information about themselves more. This is thought to be an indication of trust that information will stay between individuals.
What does social penetration theory propose?
Altman and Taylor suggest that as a relationship between individuals develops, the breadth and depth of interpersonal communication increases from shallow levels to become more intimate.
What is breadth in social penetration theory?
Breadth is the types of topics that are discussed (certain areas not appropriate until a certain level of friendship is established).
What is depth in social penetration theory?
Depth is the level of information about a topic that is revealed, such as information that is emotionally painful.
Why is reciprocity important in self-disclosure?
Relationships will only develop if both individuals are active in both disclosing information and responding in an appropriate way.
How do attributions affect self-disclosure?
Individuals consider the motivations behind self-disclosure. Someone who is seen to disclose to anyone is seen as less attractive than someone who discloses to us because they see us as special.
How does appropriateness impact self-disclosure?
While revealing information is generally seen as improving relationships, breaking social norms or revealing information too early can have the opposite effect and lower attraction.
What did Sprecher and Hendrick (2004) find about self-disclosure?
Sprecher and Hendrick (2004) conducted a longitudinal observation study watching couples self-disclose on dates. They found men and women had similar levels of self-disclosure and that there was a positive correlation between the amount of self-disclosure and relationship quality (satisfaction, love, and commitment).
What does Sprecher and Hendrick’s (2004) study suggest about reciprocity?
This suggests that self-disclosure is reciprocal, with both partners needing to reveal information about themselves. Higher levels of self-disclosure are linked to the level of attractiveness felt towards the romantic partner.
What is a limitation of self-disclosure research?
Much of the research on self-disclosure is correlational. There may not be a causal link—rather than self-disclosure causing attraction, we may self-disclose more to people we are attracted to. A third factor, such as shared interests, may also lead to both increased self-disclosure and increased attraction.
What did Aron et al. (1997) find about self-disclosure?
Aron et al. (1997) found that by providing a list of 36 questions progressing from superficial to more intimate topics, people grew closer and more intimate. A four-minute stare at the end of the sequence may have also contributed to increased intimacy.
How might cultural bias affect penetration theory?
Penetration theory may be a culturally biased reflection of individualistic Western ideas. Tang (2013) found that in the collectivist culture of China, people had higher relationship satisfaction when they had lower levels of disclosure.
