A03 Self-Disclosure

• Support from research studies

  Sprecher and Hendrick studied heterosexual dating couples and found strong correlations between several measures of satisfaction and self-disclosure: men and women who used self-disclosure and those who believed their partners were more satisfied and commited to their romantic relationship.
• Laurenceau et al study (Support from research studies)


  Used a method involving writing daily diary entries. Found self-disclosure and perception of self-disclosure in a partner were linked to higher levels of intimacy in long-term married couples. Supportive findings increase the validity of the self-disclosure theory.
• Real-world applications

  Research into self-disclosure can help people who want to improve their communication in relationships. Romantic partners use self-disclosure deliberately and skillfully to increase intimacy.
• Hass abd Stafford study (Real-world applications)


  Found 57% of gay women/men said open and honest self-disclosure was the main way they maintained and deepened their relationships. If people with limited communication can learn to use self-disclosure, the this could bring several benefits to the relationship in terms of deepening satisfaction and commitment. This real-life application demonstrates the value of psychological insight.
• Cultural differences


  Prediction of bredth/depth of self-disclosures leading to a more satisfying and romantic relationship is not true for all relationships. It depends on the type of self-discloure and culture it occurs in.
• Tang et al study (Cultural differences)


  Reviewed research literature regarding sexual self-disclosure. They concluded that men/women in the USA (individualist cultures) self-disclose more sexual thoughts and feelings than men/women in China (collectivist cultures). Both of these levels of self-disclosure are linked to relationship satisfaction in those cultures. Thus, Self-disclosure is a limited explanation of self-disclosure as it is not generalisable.
• Self-disclosure and satisfaction

  Social penetration theory claims romantic relationships become more intimate as self disclosures deepen and broaden and relationship breakdown is accompanied by the reduction of self disclosures.
• Relationship breakdown (Self-disclosure and satisfaction)


  According to theories of relationship breakdown, couples discuss and negotiate the state of their deteriorating relationships in an attempt to save it. These discussions will involve deep self disclosures of very intimate thoughts and feelings but these might not be enough to save the relationship and could contribute to the breakdown of the relationship. So there is conflicting evidence regarding relationship breakdown.
• Correlation vs causation

  Much of self-disclosing research is correlational like Sprecher and Hendrick. Although it is presumed self-disclosure leads to more satisfaction, self-disclosure is only correlated to satisfaction. For instance, the direction of causation may be the other way round, as partners become more satisfied with the relationship, they self-disclose more or self-disclosure and satisfaction are entirely independent of eachother.