✪ Self disclosure ✪

• What is self-disclosure?

  Gradual revealing of personal information
• How does self-disclosure affect relationships?


  It builds intimacy and trust between partners
• What types of personal information can be disclosed?

  Thoughts, feelings, and experiences
• What is the importance of reciprocal self-disclosure?

  It creates a balance and increases intimacy
• What can happen if self-disclosure is one-sided?

  It may lead to suspicion and distrust
• What does the Social Penetration Theory use to describe self-disclosure?

  • Onion metaphor
  • Superficial aspects (breadth)
  • Deep topics (depth)
• What happens when too much information is disclosed too soon?

  It may threaten the relationship's development
• What are the two levels of self-disclosure in relationships?

  Low risk (breadth) and high risk (depth)
• AO3 STRENGTH: Who provide research evidence for the concept of self disclosure?

  Has and Hartford
• What did Has and Hartford find?

  57% of gay men and women considered open self disclosure as a main way to maintain close relationships
• What do Has and Hartford findings demonstrate?

  Importance of self disclosure in romantic relationships, just as the theory suggests
• AO3 CONTINUED STRENGTH: What has the recognised importance of self disclosure led to?

  Strong everyday applications
• What everyday applications has the idea of self disclosure led to?

  Couples therapy. Those who only engage in meaningless small talk can be encouraged to have more meaningful interactions, this invcreases closeness and satisfaction
• AO3 WEAKNESS: What is a weakness of the concept of self disclosure?

  It is culturally biased
• Why is the concept of self disclosure culturally biased?

  Social penetration theory was based on research from western individualist cultures, so it may not apply to collectivist
• Who found differences between cultures in their view on the importance of self disclosure?

  Tang et al
• What did Tang et al find?

  Men and women in the USA tended to disclose more sexual thoughts than romantic partners in China, however relationship satisfaction level was the same
• What do Tang et al's findings show?

  Self disclosure is not a requirement for successful relationships in all cultures, therefore it is culturally biased
• AO3 WEAKNESS: What is the problem with the support for the concept of self disclosure?

  Most of the support comes from correlational research, cause and effect cannot be established
• AO3 SUMMARY: Self disclosure

  :)Research evidence - Has and Hartford, 57% gays

  :)Practical applications - Couples therapy

  :(Culturally biased - Tang et al

  :(Evidence comes from correlational research