self-disclosure

• self-disclosure; gradually discussing information and secrets about yourself to others around you

  • family, siblings
  • personal opinions on politics or socially
  • past relationships
  • hobbies and interests
  • trauma
• social penetration theory; Altman and Taylor (1973); gradual process of revealing your inner self to somebody, giving away deepest thoughts and feelings to involve breadth (little topics) and depth (high risk info)

  • high risk; passing of family member
  • low risk; birthday, fav food

  depenetration; when someone is unhappy and starts to withdrawal information
• reciprocity; Reis and Shaver (1988); self-disclosure needs to be reciprocal to create a balance of self-disclosure which helps to increase feelings of intimacy
• evaluation;

  strengths;

  • applicable to everyone, universalisation, everyone is capable of making conversation and being open to new information
  • applicable to same-sex relationships, as they can relate to similar topics
  • relationship therapy, helps couple to progress in their relationships - ecological validity

  weakness;

  • some people take longer to comprehend and react than others
  • third variable that affects attraction, or it could be because you are attracted you to disclose rather than self-disclosure causes attraction