Relationships: Self-disclosure Flashcards
(8 cards)
what’s self-disclosure?
it’s revealing personal information about yourself. romantic partners reveal more about themselves as their relationship develops. these self-disclosures about one’s deepest thoughts and feelings can strengthen a romantic bond.
what’s the social penetration theory?
it’s the gradual process of revealing your inner self to someone. it’s the reciprocal exchange of information between partners. when 1 partner reveals personal information, they display trust. as they reveal more information, they penetrate more deeply into each other’s lives and gain a greater understanding.
what’s breadth and depth?
as both these increase, partners become more commited to each other. there’s a metaphor of the layers on an onion. we disclose superficial, on the surface information. as the relationship develops, self-disclosure becomes more deeper, revealing our true self.
what’s the reciprocity of self-disclosure?
There needs to be reciprocity for the relationship to develop. once we decided to disclose something, we hope our partner will reciprocate. there is a balance of self-disclosure between both partners for the relationship to be successful.
what’s research support from Sprecher and Hendrick? (A03)
They studied heterosexual dating couples and found strong correlations between several measures of satisfaction and self-disclosure. In short, men and women use self-disclosure those who believe their partners did were more satisfied and committed.
what was the research support from Laurenceau? (A03)
He used a method that involved writing daily diary entries. they found that self-disclosure and the perception of self-disclosure were linked to higher levels of intimacy in long term married couples. this evidence increases validity that self-disclosure leads to more satisfying relationship.
what’s the real-life application of self-disclosure? (A03)
Research into self-disclosure can help people who want to improve communication in their relationships. partners can use self-disclosure deliverately and skillfully to increase intimacy and strengthen bond. Hass + Stafford found that 57% gay people said open and honest self-disclosure was the main way they maintained their relationships. this application demonstrates the value of psychological insights.
what’s the cultural differences? (A03)
Tang reviewed the research literature regarding sexual self-disclosure. they concluded that men and women in the USA self-disclose significantly more sexual thoughts and feelings than men and women in China. these levels were linked to relationship satisfaction. this is a limited explanation as it’s based on findings from Western cultures and aren’t generalisable.
