Self-disclosure

• Self-disclosure involves revealing personal information about yourself such as intimate thoughts, feelings and experiences.
• Romantic partners reveal more about their true selves as the relationship develops.
• Self-disclosure strengthens the relationship if used appropriately. The greater disclose, the greater feelings of intimacy.
• People reveal more information to the ones they like and also tend to like those who reveal more intimate information in return.
• Research suggests that the level of self-disclosure received in a relationship is a better predictor of liking and loving than the level of self-disclosure given.
• Sprecher 1987 found disclosure of personal experiences such as sexual relationships has a greater influence on relationship satisfaction than more neutral types of self-disclosure such as music preferences.
• Norms about self-disclosure suggest we should only engage in moderate self-disclosure in the early stages of a relationship, reciprocate self-disclosure and the more one person discloses to another, the more that is expected in return.
• Altman and Taylor 1973 suggested relationships are a gradual process of revealing your inner self to someone else. It is a reciprocal exchange. Self-disclosure only happens when sufficient trust has been established due to reduction in embarrassment.
• Altman and Taylor's social penetration theory suggests that low risk information is revealed early on in a relationship and high risk information comes out as the relationship progresses. Self-disclosure is rewarding and builds commitment in relationships.
• Reis and Shaver 1988 claimed breadth and depth are not sufficient for a relationship to develop - there must be a reciprocal element. A balance of self-disclosure between both partners, deepens the relationship and makes it successful.
• Self-disclosure may not always be appropriate. For example, on first dates personal self-disclosure may be viewed as over the top and lacking in social skills.
• There may be less attraction if someone discloses personal information to everyone and more attraction if self-disclosure is only for selected individuals. Self-disclosure of highly intimate information may be seen as inappropriate and violating social norms, especially if a relationship is in its early stages. This could decrease attraction.
• There may be gender differences within self-disclosure. Women are generally seen as better communicators, therefore intimate self-disclosures by males may be seen as less appropriate than those by females.
• Research support for importance of self-disclosure in relationships. Sprecher and Hendrick 2004 found strong correlations between measures of satisfaction and self-disclosure in heterosexual dating couples. This is positive as it supports the view that self-disclosure is a crucial factor in strengthening relationships.
• Real-life applications. Hass and Stafford 1998 studied heterosexual dating couples and found 57% of gay men and women said that open and honest self-disclosure was the main way they maintained and deepened their committed relationships. This is positive as it supports the view that people maintain relationships with self-disclosure.
• Nomothetic. Social penetration theory claims greater self-disclosure will lead to greater relationship satisfaction and ignores various other factors which can influence relationships such as cultural practices and personality. Social penetration theory also ignores physical attractiveness. This suggests that research into romantic relationships could benefit from an idiographic approach which studies couples’ unique experiences in detail, rather than establishing universal laws.
• Doesn’t account for cultural differences. Social penetration theory was based on research in a Western, individualist culture, so it may not apply to collectivist cultures. Tang et al 2013 found that men and women in the USA disclosed more sexual thoughts and feelings than those in China, however the level of relationship satisfaction was high in both cultures. This demonstrates that social penetration theory is culturally biased and self-disclosure is not a requirement for successful relationships in all cultures.