What is self-disclosure?
The act of revealing personal or private information to another person.
What types of self-disclosure are there?
Verbal (thoughts, feelings) and non-verbal (body language, facial expression).
Why is self-disclosure important in romantic relationships?
Promotes intimacy, trust, and emotional closeness.
What is the Social Penetration Theory (SPT)?
SPT = gradual process of revealing the self, leading to greater intimacy.
Who developed Social Penetration Theory?
Altman and Taylor (1973).
What does “breadth” mean in the context of self-disclosure?
Breadth = range of topics disclosed.
What does “depth” refer to in self-disclosure?
Depth = how personal/intimate the information is.
According to SPT, how does self-disclosure develop over time?
Starts with low-risk topics, progressing to high-risk disclosures as trust grows.
Why can early high disclosure be damaging?
Too much too soon may overwhelm or reduce attraction.
What is reciprocal self-disclosure?
When both partners disclose at a similar level—mutual sharing.
Why is reciprocity important in romantic bonding?
Builds trust and strengthens commitment—promotes satisfaction.
What research supports the role of self-disclosure in relationship satisfaction?
Sprecher & Hendrick (2004): couples who disclosed more were more satisfied.
Laurenceau et al. (2005): daily diary studies show links to intimacy
How does self-disclosure differ between genders?
Women tend to disclose more and rate disclosure more positively.
What cultural differences exist in self-disclosure behaviour?
Tang et al. (2013): individualist cultures disclose more than collectivist ones.
AO3 - What practical applications does SPT have?
Useful in relationship counselling—helps couples improve communication.
AO3 - What are the limitations of self-disclosure research?
Cultural and gender bias in original research; relies on correlational data, not cause-effect.
