Self-Disclosure

Definition

Self-disclosure refers to the process of revealing personal, intimate information about oneself to others. Through self-disclosure, two individuals get to know one another. Self-disclosure is considered a key aspect of developing closeness and intimacy with others, including friends, romantic partners, and family members. However, self-disclosure also functions as a way for people to express their feelings about a situation, to give others their thoughts and opinions about a topic, to elicit reassurance about their feelings, or to get advice.

Context and Importance

Self-disclosure varies by the level of intimacy. For example, information can range from being relatively superficial, such as disclosing where you are from and what your favorite flavor of ice cream is, to being more private, such as revealing that your parents are going through a divorce or that you once cheated on your boyfriend or girlfriend. Self-disclosure also varies in how many different topics that are disclosed. When individuals disclose private information, their disclosure is high in depth. When individuals disclose a wide range of topics about themselves, their disclosure is high in breadth. Most relationships begin with the exchange of superficial information, which gradually turn into more meaningful disclosures when the superficial conversation is rewarding. That is, people are likely to move the conversation to a deeper level by increasing both the breadth and the depth of the conversation when they are enjoying a conversation they are having.

When a relationship is new, early conversations tend to involve self-disclosure reciprocity. Put another way, new acquaintances tend to match one another's disclosures; when one partner opens up and discloses, the other ends up disclosing as well. As one partner's disclosure increases in intimacy, so too does the other partner's disclosure. Because self-disclosure is reciprocal, it both influences and is influenced by the intimacy level between two people. Thus, if you want to get to know someone, one strategy is to disclose personal information about yourself to the person you want to get to know. Most likely, this person will open up to you in turn. Over time and over the course of a number of conversations, a relationship becomes increasingly more intimate.

Three important factors determine whether an interaction will be intimate. First is the content of the individual's disclosure. For example, the disclosure of personal desires, fantasies, anxieties, and emotions is more important for the development of intimacy than is the disclosure of facts. This is because the disclosure of emotions provides an opportunity for the partner to validate and demonstrate that he or she cares for, supports, and accepts the individual. The second is the partner's response to the disclosure. When the partner is responsive, feelings of closeness are increased and further communication is facilitated. When a partner is not responsive, he or she is indicating a lack of interest in further conversation and intimacy is decreased. Third is the individual's interpretation of and reaction to the partner's behavior. If the individual perceives the partner as supportive and understanding, the conversation is likely to become more intimate because the individual is likely to disclose again or prompt the partner to disclose. If the individual perceives the partner as unsupportive or intrusive, the conversation is not likely to become intimate. Thus, when disclosure is high, the partner is responsive and the individual perceives the partner as caring, the conversation will most likely become more intimate over time.

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