self-disclosure

Question 1

limitation:overly reliant on correlational research.

Answer 1

E – Researchers into the role of self-disclosure as a factor affecting attraction often support their claims on the basis of evidence of a positive correlation between reported levels of self-disclosure and attraction.

E – However, finding a positive correlation between levels of self-disclosure and attraction does not demonstrate causation. Although it’s quite possible that increasing levels of disclosure do cause attraction to develop, the direction of causation could be the other way around.

Question 2

strength:There is supporting research

Answer 2

E - For example, Laurenceau (2005) used a longitudinal design to study the diaries 96 married couples and found that participants who recorded high levels of self-disclosure in their relationship also reported greater feelings of intimacy as a couple.

E – If we take intimacy as an indicator of greater attraction, then these findings demonstrates the importance of self-disclosure as a factor affecting attraction in romantic relationships. This is exactly what one would expect from Altman and Taylor’s social penetration theory, as the higher levels of self disclosure signify trust, which leads to closer relationship based on mutual attraction. This is superior to relying on a questionnaire administered at a single time, as this would make it difficult to establish the direction of causation between self-disclosure and intimacy (i.e., attraction).

L - Therefore, this study provides strong support for the role of self disclosure .