Relationships: Self-disclosure

Question 1

What is self-disclosure

Answer 1

• Self disclosure involves revealing personal information about yourself.
• Romantic partners reveal more about their true selves as the relationship develops.
• These revelations strengthen the relationship if used appropriately.

Question 2

What is social penetration theory (Altman and Taylor)

Answer 2

• involves reciprocal exchange of information between partners -> This leads to a deep understanding of each others lives.
  -> There are two elements to this idea – breadth and depth.
• Altman and Taylor use the onion metaphor (layers) to explain this.

Question 3

What is the onion metaphor (social penetration theory)

Answer 3

• Low risk information is revealed early on in a relationship and high risk information comes out as the relationship progresses.
  -> can be because high risk information can put the other party off and can be uncomfortable to know about.

Question 4

What is reciprocity of self-disclosure (Reis and Shaver)

Answer 4

• tends to be a balance of self disclosure in successful romantic relationships.
• After disclosing information, you want your partner to respond in a rewarding way, with understanding and empathy.
• Increases intimacy and deepens the relationship.

Question 5

List the factors influencing disclosure and attraction

Answer 5

• appropriateness of the disclosure
• attributions for the disclosure
• gender differences
• content for disclosure

Question 6

what is appropriateness of disclosure

Answer 6

• Sometimes disclosing personal information is inappropriate in certain contexts, e.g. on a first date – suggests that the individual is lacking in social skills.
• More attractive people will be sensitive and aware of these norms.

Question 7

explain attributions for the disclosure

Answer 7

• the reasons we believe a person is self-disclosing to us are important.
• Less attraction occurs if an individual is seen as the kind of person who discloses personal information to everyone.
• However, more attraction occurs if we believe an individual sees us as someone they especially want to disclose intimate info to.

Question 8

Explain gender differences as a factor in self-disclosure

Answer 8

• Women generally are seen as better communicators of and more interested in intimate information, therefore intimate self-disclosures by males may be seen as less appropriate than those by females.
• Alternatively, self-disclosure by a male may be seen as very rewarding for a female.
  -> Meanwhile, males may feel threatened by females self-disclosing intimate details to them.

Question 9

How is content for disclosure a factor in disclosure and attraction

Answer 9

• Disclosure of highly intimate info may be seen as inappropriate and as violating social norms, especially if a relationship is in its early stages.
  -> This could decrease attraction.
• Attraction is strongest when self-disclosure is of moderate intimacy and weaker when too high or low.

Question 10

List the evaluations for theories of self-disclosure

Answer 10

positive:
- support for social penetration theory
- real life application in communication

Negatives:
- individual differences
- too reductionist

Question 11

(+) explain support for social penetration theory (Sprecher and Hendrick)

Answer 11

• Sprecher and Hendrick (2004) studied heterosexual dating couples and found strong positive correlations between relationship satisfaction and self-disclosure.

Question 12

(+) explain support for social penetration theory (Laurenceau)

Answer 12

• Laurenceau
• Used method that involved writing daily diary entries.
• self-disclosure in a partner were linked to higher levels of intimacy in long-term married couples.
• The reverse was also true – less intimate couples self-disclosed less often.
• This supportive evidence increases the validity of the theory that self-disclosure leads to more satisfying relationships.

Question 13

(+) explain how self-disclosure has real life applications in communication (Hass and Stafford)

Answer 13

• Research can help people who want to improve communication in their relationships.
• Hass and Stafford (1998) found that 57% of gay men and women said that open and honest self-disclosure was the main way they maintained their relationships.
  -> This finding demonstrates the value of psychological insight.

Question 14

(-) explain how theories of self-disclosure do not account for individual differences

Answer 14

• personality of recipients may be an important factor in whether self-disclosure increases the attractiveness of potential partners.
• Different individuals would have different needs for levels of intimacy in relationships and this would affect how attractive they would find intimate self-disclosures.

Question 15

(-) Explain how theories of self-disclosure are too reductionist

Answer 15

• unlikely the attractiveness of a potential partner would be reliant purely on the level/type of self-disclosure that an individual makes.
• It is more likely that self-disclosure would interact with other considerations, such as level of physical attractiveness, similarity of interests/attitudes, for example.
• doesn’t account for other factors in attraction.