1. Sharing Personal Information
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2. Definition of Self-Disclosure: Opening Up
Personal information about the self that is shared voluntarily
Others would have trouble finding out this information if you hadn’t told them
Self-disclosures are verbal behaviors
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3. Definition of Self-Disclosure: Opening Up
Intentionality and choice
Trust is necessary for self-disclosure
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4. Definition of Self-Disclosure: Opening Up
Private information and risk
Public information - facts we present to others that are socially approved
Private information – assessments that we make about ourselves
Self-disclosure can be risky
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5. Self-Disclosure as a Subjective Process
History - information that sounds personal but is relatively easy for a speaker to tell
Story - true and authentic disclosure when the teller feels the risk in telling the information
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6. Factors Affecting Disclosures
Individual differences
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7. Factors Affecting Disclosures
Relational issues 3 reveal patterns of self-disclosure
Gradual increase, stabilize, gradual decrease
Slow build up and then a spike before leveling off
Clicking shows a spike in self-disclosures at the beginning, followed by a gradual decrease
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8. Factors Affecting Disclosures
Culture
Gender and sex
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9. Principles of Self-Disclosure
We disclose a great deal in few interactions
Self-disclosures occur between two people in a close relationship
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10. Principles of Self-Disclosure
Self-disclosures are reciprocal
Principle of reciprocity
Dyadic effect
Self-disclosures occur over time
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11. Explaining Self-Disclosure
Dialectics theory explains relational life as a push-pull of tensions resulting from the desire for polar opposites
Dialectics tries to integrate these opposing positions
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12. Explaining Self-Disclosure
Social penetration model says that people have many layers
Breadth refers to the number of different topic areas discussed
Depth refers to the amount of detail we provide about a specific topic
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13. Explaining Self-Disclosure
Johari window is a pictorial representation of yourself in the communication process
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14. Johari Window

15. Johari Window
Open self – information about you known to both you and the other
Hidden self – information about you than only you know about yourself
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16. Johari Window
Blind self – information that only the other person knows about you
Unknown self – information that neither you or the other person knows about you
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17. Reasons to Self-Disclose
Individual reasons
Achieve catharsis and maintain psychological health and control
Maintain physical health
Attain self-awareness
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18. Reasons to Self-Disclose
Relational reasons
Aid in relational development
Maintain /enhance a relationship
Satisfy expectations for intimacy
Achieve relational escalation
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19. Reasons Not to Self-Disclose
To avoid hurt and rejection
To avoid conflict, protect a relationship, or both
To keep one’s image intact, maintain individuality, or both
To reduce or forget about stress
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20. Choices for Effective Disclosing
Use I-statements
Owning your own thoughts and feelings
“I think,” I feel,” “I believe.”
Be honest
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21. Choices for Effective Disclosing
Be consistent with your verbal and nonverbal communication
Focus your nonverbal communication
Be sure your content is relevant
Be sure your topic is relevant
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22. Choices for Effective Disclosing
Estimate the risks and benefits
Predict how your partner will respond
Be sure the amount and type of disclosures are appropriate
Estimate the effect of the disclosure on your relationship
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