Self disclosure

• Self disclosure - the extent to which a person reveals personal information about themselves
• A greater self disclosure leads to a greater level of intimacy
• People will tend to disclose more information to people that they like
• Sprecher et al

  • studied 156 US undergraduates and paired them in 2 person dyads
  • 2/3 female and 1/3 male
  • the study looked at self disclosure over Skype
  • reciprocal condition - Ps took turns disclosing information and asking questions - higher mean values for liking, closeness, similarity and enjoyment
  • non- reciprocal condition - only one P disclosed information at a time- lower mean values for liking, closeness, similarity and enjoyment
• Sprecher showed that the level of self disclosure received in a romantic relationship was a better predictor of liking and loving than level of self disclosure given.

  • has predictive validity of how long couples can remain together
• Research has shown that the type of self disclosure predicts relationship satisfaction

  • Sprecher found that personal disappointments, accomplihsments and information have a greater influence on relationship satisfaction than more neutral types of s.d.
• Implications

  • helps relationships develop as couples can be aware of the fact that they need to engage in a moderate amount of s.d.
  • not too personal or impersonal
  • relationship development means that more is revealed about yourself
• Other factors

  • attraction is an important variable
  • people often find other people that have similar interest attractive as well
• Culture -

  • people engage more in s.d. in the West than non westerners
• Further support - reality TV shows

  • r.s. between gradual self disclosure and attraction applies to liking reality TV contestants as well as real life romantic relationships
  • research showed that viewers preferred s.d. to be more gradual and evolve slowly as seen in tv
• Sprecher and Hendrick found strong correlations between several measures of satisfaction and self disclosuure. They also found that it was more satisfying when partners take turns to disclose information BUT much of this evidence is correlational not causal.