Self-Disclosure
self-disclosure is purposeful disclosure of significant personal information that normally wouldn't be known by others
self-disclosure doesn't have to be deep to be useful or meaningful
it is a way of gaining information from another person
we can learn how a person thinks and feels using self-disclosure
a risk to self-disclosure is that you are not able to respond favorably to the information
another risk is they will gain power in the relationship from the information they have
reasons to why self-disclosure is risky
self-validation
reciprocity
self-clarification
impression management
cathasis
relationship maintenance and enhancement
control
social penetration theory states that as we get to know someone, we engage in a reciprocal process of self-disclosure that changes breadth and depth and affects how a relationship develops
depth refers to how personal or sensitive the information is
breadth refers to the range of topics discussed
open self is information that is known to us and others
hidden self is information that is known to us but not others
blind self is information that people who have a disconnection between how they see themselves and how others see them
unknown self is information that is not known to ourselves or others