FAA- Self disclosure

• What is self disclosure?

  Process where partners gradually reveal personal information e.g. thoughts.

  This is an indication of trust
• What does the Social Penetration Theory propose?


  ---> Altman and Taylor

  By gradually revealing emotions/experiences people gain greater trust and understanding.

  Breadth and Depth (onion analogy)
• What does breadth show? (SPT)


  At first people often share information about superficial ('self') topics e.g. age.

  Normally friendship level information
• What does depth show? (SPT)

  Eventually disclosing intimate information that was initially off bounds e.g. traumas

  Information is usually personal/sensitive
• What does reciprocity in self disclosure propose?


  Relationships will only develop if both individuals are active in disclosing information and responding in the appropriate way
• Sprecher and Hendrick


  Longitudinal study

  • Positive correlation between amount of self disclosure and the quality of the relationship

  Suggests:

  Self disclosure is reciprocal. High levels of self disclosure is linked to high levels of attractiveness
• Strength of self disclosure (SD)

  Scientific and controlled evidence

  
  

  Sprecher did a lab study where pps had structures conversations with their partner and were observed. Found that high levels of self disclosure led to high levels of intimacy - felt more closer and connected

  
  

  Because this was a controlled experiment it clearly shows that self disclosure can lead to greater intimacy. The controlled setting also means that study can be repeated - increased reliability

  
  

  Therefore, this study improves the internal validity and credibility of self disclosure as an explanation as it shows a link between self disclosure and intimacy which helps us to understand how relationships grow
• Limitation of self disclosure

  Lack of ecological validity

  
  

  In most supporting research they were done in lab settings. For example in Sprecher's study participants took part in structured conversations in an artificial lab setting

  
  

  These conditions do not reflect how people would naturally communicate in real life relationships which may lead pps to change there behaviour due to social desirability bias.

  • May share more or less then they usually would meaning that it distorts the findings and conclusions drawn

  
  

  Therefore, this reduces the external validity and applicability as the findings are based on interactions that aren't natural which don't reflect real life behaviour
• Strength of self disclosure

  High generalisability

  
  

  Research by Haas and Hartford who studied homosexual couples. Found:

  • 57 percent of gay men and women reported that self disclosure was key to maintaining intimacy in their relationships

  This suggests that self disclosure is an important factor in relationships not only heterosexual ones but homosexual ones too

  
  

  
  

  Therefore, this increases the validity of the explanation as its supported by evidence from both heterosexual and homosexual couples which increases the applicability to a variety of relationships types, improving generalisability
• Limitation of self disclosure

  Alpha Bias

  
  

  Most studies suggest that women are better at communication and self disclosure than men, with women generally being more open about their emotions and personal experiences - Dindia and Allen

  
  

  This focus on gender differences may overemphasise the extent to which women are more communicative than men which overlooks the influence of social norms that encourage women to be more expressive while discouraging men from doing so

  
  

  Therefore, the explanation may not be fully accurate as it could exaggerate the differences between women and men which reduces the credibility and validity of findings