Relationships - Self disclosure

Question 1

what is self disclosure

Answer 1

• revealing personal information about yourself

Question 1

what is social penetration theory

Answer 1

• Taylor and Altman (1973)
• how relationships develop
• gradual process of revealing yourself to someone
• ## reciprocal exchange of information

Question 2

what is breadth and depth

Answer 2

• breadth = surface information
• depth = high risk deep information
• onion metaphor

Question 3

what is reciprocity of self disclosure

Answer 3

Reis and Shaver (1988)
- has to be a reciprocal element to self disclosure
- deepens the relationship

Question 4

what are the strengths of self disclosure

Answer 4

Sprecher and Hendrick (2004)
- studied heterosexual couples and found strong correlations between self disclosure and satisfaction
- use more self disclosure = more satisfied relationship

Haas and Stafford (1998)
- 57% of homosexual men and women said open and honest self-disclosure was the way they maintained and deepened relationship
- less-skilled couples learn to use self-disclosure brings benefits to the relationship

Question 5

what are the limitations of self disclosure

Answer 5

Cultural differences
Tang et al (2013)
- men and women in the US self disclose more sexual thoughts than those in China
- levels of satisfaction were the same despite different levels of disclosure
- cannot be generalised easily