Self Disclosure Through Social Penetration Theory

Decisions about self-disclosure -whether to reveal one s thoughts, feelings, or past experiences to another person, or the level of intimacy of such disclosure - are part of the everyday life of most persons (Derlega Berg, 1987, p. ix). Deciding whether or not to self-disclose with others, not only affects the type of relationships you form, but also how you are perceived by others. It goes without saying that, self-disclosure can make or break the development of close relationships. Irwin Altman and Dalmas Taylor, the theorists behind Social Penetration Theory understood this fact, and came up with a theory that explained self-disclosure through social penetration. Throughout this paper, I will discuss exactly what this theory is,†¦show more content†¦Altman and Taylor (1987) developed the social penetration theory to describe self-disclosure as the gradual sharing of information about oneself. Different Stages of Relational Development: Author of Close Encounters: Communication in Relationships, Laura K. Guerrero, Peter A. Anderson, and Walid A. Afifi, (2018) state that, â€Å"According to this theory, as partners get closer, they move through four stages of relational development† (pg. 116). The first stage, called orientation, involves superficial disclosure that allows people to get to know one another in a nonthreatening manner. The second stage, called exploratory affective exchange, focuses on broadening the range of topics that people talk about so they can determine what they have in common and decide whether or not to further develop a relationship. The third stage, called affective exchange, occurs when people start to disclose information on more personal topics, such as emotions and vulnerabilities. The final state, stable exchange, occurs when people in a relationship feel free to disclose almost all of their thoughts, feelings, and experiences with one another (p. 116). These different stages progress after an initial interaction when people meet. As relationships develop, so does your self-disclosure. According to the social penetration theory, â€Å"the dimensions that are most central to the process of relationship development are depth and breadth† (Afifi, Anderson, Show MoreRelatedSocial Penetration Theory : Arizona Sate University1581 Words   |  7 Pages Social Penetration Theory Conner Farquharson Arizona Sate University For a young child, telling a secret to the person he or she likes is a big deal. But the secrets that are told are minor, probably about a favorite item or candy. Not knowing at the time but social penetration theory is going on. 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