Self-Disclosure

• Self-Disclosure:

  Jourard uses the term self-disclosure to refer to the extend to which a person reveals personal information about themselves- their intimate thoughts, feelings and experiences. It is an important process in the relationship development, with greater disclosure leading to greater feelings of intimacy. People tend to prefer those who disclose intimate details- and people tend to reveal more intimate information to people they like (Collins and Miller).
• Research on Self-Disclosure:

  Research has made a distinction between the self-disclosure given and the self-disclosure received. Research typically shows that the level of self-disclosure received in a romantic relationship was a better predictor of liking than the self-disclosure given. Sprecher's research found that self-disclosure was positively correlated with relationship stability. In a study of 50 dating couples, Sprecher found the amount of overall disclosure was predictive of whether couples lasted over 4 years.
• Different Types of Self-Disclosure:

  The relationship between self-disclosure and relationship satisfaction isn't straightforward, as it has many forms. There are differences between disclosing one's taste in music and disclosing one's inner fears. Therefore research demonstrates that it is the type of self-disclosure which predicts relationships stability. Sprecher found disclosure about: experiences of personal accomplishments/disappointments, and information about previous relationships as having greater influence on relationship satisfaction than more 'neutral' disclosure.
• Norms of Self-Disclosure:

  There is a norm that people should engage in moderately personal levels of self-disclosure in initial stages. Derlega and Grzelak suggest that it should be neither too personal that the disclosure appears indiscriminate, nor so impersonal that the listener doesn't know them better as a result. The norm of reciprocity governs much of our social behaviour- others expect their partner to return the same level of disclosure back. The more one person discloses, the more disclosure is expected in return.
• Key Study: Sprecher et al 


  Procedure- p's were 156 undergraduate students in a US university, paired into two-person dyads. Each dyad of unacquainted individuals engaged in a self-disclosure task over Skype. In the reciprocal disclosure condition, dyad members immediately took in turns asking and disclosing. In the non-reciprocal condition, one person asked the questions in the first interaction and the other disclosed; and in the second interaction (extended reciprocity) the roles switched. After each interaction, researchers assessed liking, closeness and perceived similarity.
• Key Study: Sprecher et al


  Findings- individuals in the reciprocal condition dyads reported more liking, closeness and perceived similarity than those in the non-reciprocal condition. The differences remained even after the non-reciprocal condition switched disclosure roles in the second interaction. Showing that turn-taking and reciprocal self-disclosure is more likely to lead to positive interpersonal outcomes than extended reciprocity.
• AO3: Research Support for Self-Disclosure Importance

  Collins and Miller conducted a meta-analysis, finding that self-disclosure plays a central role in the development and maintenance of romantic relationships. Finding people who engage in intimate disclosure tend to be more liked than people who disclose at lower levels, and people like others if they have disclosed to them. Collins and Miller found that the relationship between self-disclosure and liking was stronger if the person believed the disclosure was shared only to them, and not indiscriminately.
• AO3: Self-Disclosure on the Internet- 'Boom & Bust' Phenomenon

  Online interactions involve higher self-disclosure levels than ftf interactions due to anonymity, greater psychological comfort makes disclosure greater. Cooper and Sportolari: when people reveal more about themselves earlier than in ftf relationships, so it becomes intense quickly (boom). But no underlying trust, and knowledge of the other person being absent to support the relationship, it is hard to sustain (bust). Demonstrating that the initial relationship needs to be established before processing deeper self-disclosure.
• AO3: Norms of Self-Disclosure Run Deep

  Tal-Or and Hershman-Shitrit: relationship between gradual self-disclosure and attraction applies to real-life romantic relationships, and liking of reality TV contestants. Reality TV shows tend to be include intimate self-disclosure of contestants early on. The rapid self-disclosure contrasts with the gradual self-disclosure experienced in everyday scenarios. Researchers found that although viewers liked those who make early intimate disclosures, they preferred the disclosure to be gradual and become more intimate, like in real-life relationships.
• AO3: Self-Disclosure Might Be Greater In Face-to-face Interactions


  Knop et al challenges the assumption that self-disclosure is greater online. Their study revealed that members of a social group reveal more personal information more often when ftf and disclose more intimate information. Finding that people people didn't use anonymity to reveal more, instead it is argued that the relative lack of intimacy over the internet makes people refrain. Due to the lacking of social cues like eye contact and attentive silence, both are absent in an online environment.
• AO3: Cultural Differences in Patterns of Self-Disclosure

  Chen found that in the West, people typically engage in more intimate self-disclosure. Americans disclose more than Chinese or Japanese do. Cultural norms shape how comfortable men and women are in self-disclosing- e.g. Nakanishi found Japanese women prefer lower levels of personal conversation than Japanese men. This is the opposite of the patterns found in the West. Suggesting the influence of self-disclosure is moderated by the influence of culture. Links to Key Study sample being all US.
• AO3: Issues and Debates

  Determinism- claims that higher self-disclosure will inevitably lead to greater relationship satisfaction, this ignores other factors which can influence relationships: cultural practices and personality. Reducing relationship satisfaction to a single factor ignores other aspects of relationship attraction: PA, similarity of attitudes, and complementarity. Suggesting it could benefit from the idiographic approach, rather than applying a set of laws to all couples.