Rs - Self Disclosure

Front 1

What does self disclosure involve?

Back 1

Revealing personal information about yourself. Romantic partners reveal more about their true selves as the relationship develop.

Front 2

What do Altman and Taylor argue?

Back 2

Social penetration theory and Breadth and depth of self-disclosure

Front 3

What is the social penetration theory?

Back 3

That relationships are a gradual process of revealing your inner self to someone. It is a reciprocal exchange.

Front 4

Why is trust important for a romantic relationship?

Back 4

Disclosure of personal information by others is rewarding as it shows their liking of you and trust. Therefore they ‘penetrate’ more deeply into each other’s lives.

Front 5

What does Ajzen argue?

Back 5

Self-disclosure is a product of information processing - where liking someone comes from having positive perceptions of a person. People who SD personal information are seen as likeable, trustworthy and kind.

Front 6

What does the Breadth and Depth theory argue?

Back 6

At the start of a relationship we disclose low risk information and we disclose high risk information as it progresses. This builds commitment in the relationship which is rewarding.

Front 7

What are examples of low risk information?

Back 7

Name, birthday, family, hobbies

Front 8

What are examples of high risk information?

Back 8

Fetishes, fears, sensitive topics

Front 9

Who argues Reciprocity of self-disclosure?

Back 9

Reis and Shaver.

Front 10

What does the reciprocity theory argue?

Back 10

For a relationship to increase in breadth and depth, self-disclosure should be reciprocal. Once you have revealed yourself hopefully your partner will respond in a rewarding way.

Front 11

How can a partner respond in a rewarding way according the reciprocity theory?

Back 11

With understanding and empathy and also their own intimate thoughts and feelings.

Front 12

What is not appropriate for disclosure?

Back 12

First dates as it can be viewed as over the top (lacking social skills).

Front 13

What are no attributions for disclosure?

Back 13

Someone that tells everyone personal information - will not make an individual feel special.

Front 14

What are gender differences that can affect disclosure?

Back 14

Women are generally seen as better communicators, therefore SD by males may be seen as less appropriate.

Front 15

What is not good content in disclosure?

Back 15

Early in the relationship, highly intimate information may be seen as inappropriate and as violating social norms.

Front 16

AO3 - Cultural differences

Back 16

Tang et al - Reviewed research regarding SD and concluded that men and women in the USA SD significantly more sexual thoughts than men and women in China.

Front 17

AO3 - What does cultural differences show about the SD theory?

Back 17

It is not applicable in all cultures. It is a limited explanation of romantic relationships as the findings are based on western cultures which are not always generalisable you other cultures.

Front 18

AO3 - Real life application

Back 18

Hass + Stafford - 57% or gay men and women in their study said that open and honest SD was the main way they maintained and deepened their committed relationships.

Front 19

AO3 - What does Hass + Staffords’ study show about the SD theory?

Back 19

The use of self disclosure has strengthen and benefited relationships in terms of deepening satisfaction and commitment showing that SD is an important factor when forming and maintains a relationship.

Front 20

AO3 - Research Support

Back 20

Sprecher & Hendrick - Studied heterosexual dating couples and found strong correlations between the measure of satisfaction and SD.