Self disclosure

• Self-disclosure increases when people communicate through computers
• Intimacy and closeness develop in relationships through a gradual process of self-disclosure
• Joinson - self-disclosure in CMC - Method

  • Undergraduate Ps in Lab experiment
  • Ps paired (mostly single sex)
  • Discuss abstract dilemma
  • Only unprompted disclosures were included
  • Task related disclosures weren't counted
• Joinson - self-disclosure in CMC - Experiment 1

  • Half Ps discuss dilemma face to face
  • Half discussed in separate rooms through computer chat
• Joinson - self-disclosure in CMC - Experiment 2

  • All pairs used chat program
  • Half had video connection
• Joinson - self-disclosure in CMC - Findings

  Experiment 1:

  • Ps in computer condition showed more self-disclosure than face to face

  Experiment 2:

  • Ps who could see each other had significantly lower levels of self-disclosure
• Joinson - self-disclosure in CMC - Conclusion

  • Disclosure more about themselves when communicating via computer than they do face to face
• Joinson - self-disclosure in CMC - Evaluation

  • Lab experiment -->control of variables --> replicable
  • Ps in same sex pairs --> not generalisable
  • Raters could tell which conversation was face to face and which was online
  • Rating biased?
• Self awareness affecting computer communication

  • self-awareness = paying attention to yourself
  • Public self-awareness = Being aware how you appear to others
  • Private self-awareness = Looking inwards
• Joinson study included a 3rd experiment where Ps discussed dilemma in computer conditions to induce high or low public and private self-awarenes
• Joinson found conditions with high private and low public self-awareness resulted in higher levels of self-disclosure
• Chatting with anonymity and focusing on thoughts and feelings to express them in writing

  Joinson suggested this to create a low public high private self awareness