self disclosure

• altman & taylor 1973?

  • social penetration theory of how relationships develop
• what is self disclosure?

  • sharing of personal info about yourself to a mate
• social penetration theory?

  • idea that the more we self disclose personal info about yourself to another the more we find someone attractive & greater development of an intimate romantic relationship
  • gradual process of revealing inner self to someone
  • they penetrate more deeply into each others lives & find each other more attractive
• breadth & depth in self disclosure?

  • as relationship progresses disclosure becomes deeper leading to deeper attraction
  • in successful romantic relationships once person self discloses info to patner theres reciprocity - respond with understanding & disclose info about themselves
• what happens if high risk info exposed too soon?

  • can be off putting for potential mate
  • if other person is not willing to disclose - results in individual feeling uncomfortable & not attracted to each other
• 2 * of self disclosure?

  1. evidence to support from sprecher & hendrick 2004
  2. practical application
• * evidence from sprecher & hendrick 2004?

  • looked at heterosexual couples
  • found strong correlations in relationships satisfaction & self disclosure
  • men & women who used self disclosure that was reciprocal were more committed & satisfied with their romantic relationship
  • shows that people in relationships who have self disclosed info leads to people being more attracted to each other & committed to each other in a relationship
• X issues with causality?

  • can establish relationship between self disclosure & attraction but dont know if being attracted to someone makes us more likely to disclose/if disclosing is causing stronger attraction
  • sample only focused on 1 type of relationship - homosexual couples may look for different factors in partners which impact attraction
  • ? internal
  • cannot establish cause & effect relationship between self disclosure & attraction in relationship
  • suggests may be other factors affecting attraction - physical appearance
• * practical application?

  • research in this area has shown us that self disclosure leads to stronger relationships by increasing attraction in romantic relationship
  • can use this knowledge to help couples who are struggling in relationship/maintain relationship by encouraging them to open upto each other & talk to partners about personal info in gradual process by starting at low risk & moving to more high risk disclosures
  • has helped us in real world to help people have happier relationships wih more attraction
• 2 X of self disclosure?

  1. issues with causality - sprecher & hendrick
  2. only effective in certain points of relationship
• X only effective at certain points?

  • if self disclosure is used too early may actually have opposite effect & leads to decreased attraction
  • eg if someone discloses too much - desires/beliefs/secrets at start of relationship may lead to them not being found attractive
  • if its not done gradually & reciprocated by other mate then can give reverse effects so its not always effective in increasing attraction in romantic relationship