Self-disclosure

• Self-disclosure is revealing information about ourselves to people we like and liking those who reveal information about themselves to us as it indicates trust
• self-disclosure can include sharing likes, dislikes, and interests
• Social Penetration Theory (Altman and Taylor 1973) shows that as a relationship develops so does the depth and breadth of self-disclosure increasing from shallow superficial levels to more deep and intimate levels
• Social penetration theory (Altman and Taylor 1973) states that de-penetration is when partners gradually disclose less and begin to drift apart as a consequence
• Social Penetration Theory (Altman and Taylor 1973) describes "peeling the onion" as there are layers to communication; superficial, intimate, personal, and core
• Reciprocity (Reiss and Shaver 1988) states that relationships only develop if both parties disclose information and respond to social cues appropriately
• Attributions is the motivations behind self-disclosure; being selective in your self disclosure is seen as more attractive to others
• Self-Disclosure is based on appropriateness as breaking social norms by disclosing too much can significantly lower attraction
• Self-Disclosure strength; research support from Sprecher and Hendrick (2004) who carried out longitudinal observation of self-disclosure on dates and found a correlation between self-disclosure and relationship satisfaction HOWEVER this research is only correlational and does not show cause and effect
• Self-Disclosure strength; research support from Haas and Stafford (1998) who found 57% of homosexual men and women in long term relationships reported that self disclosure was how they sustained their relationships
• Self-Disclosure weakness; culturally relative as Tang (2013) found men and women in the USA self-disclose more sexual thoughts and feelings than men and women in China although both countries have similar levels of relationship satisfaction