Self disclosure

• What is self disclosure 


  Gradually revealing personal info about self

  Partners reveal more as relationship develops

  Strengthen romantic bond
• info in self disclosure in order starting with most basic 


  biographical data :age gender

  Preferences: clothes food music

  Goals aspirations:

  Religion:

  Deeply held fear’s+ fantasy:

  concept of self:
• social penetration theory of self disclosure 


  -gradual process of revealing inner self to other

  -give away deep thoughts + feelings

  -reciprocal exchange of into between partners
• breadth + depth of self disclosure 


  info disclosed at start of relationship is superficial (biographical data)

  both breadth and depth at start is limited as lots is off limits (TMI)
• reciprocity of self disclosure


  self disclosure must be reciprocated- once info is given partner should respond with understanding and own info.

  there is a balance in successful relationships
• Strength of self disclosure (social penetration theory)


  Supporting evidence by sprecher + hendrick studied hetero couples found strong correlation between satisfaction and disclosure. Laurenceau found strong correlation between intimacy and disclosure.

  Shows disclosure leads to satisfaction
• negative of self disclosure


  correlation causation issue, whilst its assumed greater self disclosure creates satisfaction a correlation does not mean causation.

  also it only studied hetero couples so cannot be generalised
• weakness of self disclosure (breadth depth)

  cultural bias and depends on type of disclosure. tang found Usa (individualist) more expressive of sexual thoughts than china (collectivist) . suggests limited explanation based on west