Love
Describe and evaluate self-disclosure as a factor affecting attraction in
romantic relationships (16 marks):
Self-disclosure means revealing personal information about yourself. Romantic partners
reveal more about their true selves as their relationship develops. These self-disclosures
about one's deepest thoughts and feelings can strengthen a romantic bond when used
appropriately. Self-disclosures could be your likes/fears, hopes/fears, interests/attitudes.7
The social penetration theory states that as partners reveal more and more information to
each other, they 'penetrate' more deeply into each other's lives, and gain a greater
understanding of each other.
Self-disclosure has two elements —breadth and depthl As both of these increase, romantic
partners become more committed to each other. An onion metaphor is usually used. For
example, the first layer is superficial information you would tell anyone. However, as you
self-disclose more and 'peel back' more layers, the informationshared is more intimate and
encompasses a wider range of topics, such as painful memories.qs .
For a relationship to develop, as well as increase in breadth and depth, there needs to be a
reciprocal element to disclosure. Hopefully, after self-disclosure,the partner will respond
with empathy and also sharetheir own intimate thoughts and feelings. Therefore, there
needs to be a balance of self-disclosure between both partners.
However, the Predigtion,thåtincreasing depth andbreadth of self-disclosures will lead to
P)presatisfying andintimate romantic relationshipis nottrue focall cultures. To a large
extent it depends on the type of self-disclosure. For example, a study reviewed the research
literature regarding sexual self-disclosure. It concluded that men and women in the¯i.jSÅ'
Cmdividualistculture) selfrdisclose significantly _moresexual thoughts and feelingsthan men
and women in China (collectivistsulture).ßothfhese levelspf are linked tö
trelationship satisfactiomin thoseculturéS'Jhis makes the self-disclosure theory ot
necessarily generalisable to other cultures.
SOCial penetration theory claims that romantic relationships become more intimate as self-
disclosures deepen and broaden. It@ggestsrelationship breakdownisactompanied y
reduction in selßdi"losures owever, theories ot relationship breakdown
how puples discuss andnegotiate the-state«their deteriorating relätiönshiötosave_iV
These discussionsfrequentlfinvolvé"deep disc16suréwhich goes against the social
penetration theory.
Research into self-disclosure can help people who want to improve communication in their
relationship. A study found57%ofrgay-men and women said_thatopen an onest se
disclosure was the man-wavthey maintained and deepened their committed relationshiØS'.
If less skilled partners-camlearnwuse self-disclosure then this could bring several benefits
to the relationships in terms ofßeepening satisfaction and this shows there is
teal,life application for this theory, which is a strength.
Describe and evaluate self-disclosure as a factor affecting attraction in
romantic relationships (16 marks):
Self-disclosure means revealing personal information about yourself. Romantic partners
reveal more about their true selves as their relationship develops. These self-disclosures
about one's deepest thoughts and feelings can strengthen a romantic bond when used
appropriately. Self-disclosures could be your likes/fears, hopes/fears, interests/attitudes.7
The social penetration theory states that as partners reveal more and more information to
each other, they 'penetrate' more deeply into each other's lives, and gain a greater
understanding of each other.
Self-disclosure has two elements —breadth and depthl As both of these increase, romantic
partners become more committed to each other. An onion metaphor is usually used. For
example, the first layer is superficial information you would tell anyone. However, as you
self-disclose more and 'peel back' more layers, the informationshared is more intimate and
encompasses a wider range of topics, such as painful memories.qs .
For a relationship to develop, as well as increase in breadth and depth, there needs to be a
reciprocal element to disclosure. Hopefully, after self-disclosure,the partner will respond
with empathy and also sharetheir own intimate thoughts and feelings. Therefore, there
needs to be a balance of self-disclosure between both partners.
However, the Predigtion,thåtincreasing depth andbreadth of self-disclosures will lead to
P)presatisfying andintimate romantic relationshipis nottrue focall cultures. To a large
extent it depends on the type of self-disclosure. For example, a study reviewed the research
literature regarding sexual self-disclosure. It concluded that men and women in the¯i.jSÅ'
Cmdividualistculture) selfrdisclose significantly _moresexual thoughts and feelingsthan men
and women in China (collectivistsulture).ßothfhese levelspf are linked tö
trelationship satisfactiomin thoseculturéS'Jhis makes the self-disclosure theory ot
necessarily generalisable to other cultures.
SOCial penetration theory claims that romantic relationships become more intimate as self-
disclosures deepen and broaden. It@ggestsrelationship breakdownisactompanied y
reduction in selßdi"losures owever, theories ot relationship breakdown
how puples discuss andnegotiate the-state«their deteriorating relätiönshiötosave_iV
These discussionsfrequentlfinvolvé"deep disc16suréwhich goes against the social
penetration theory.
Research into self-disclosure can help people who want to improve communication in their
relationship. A study found57%ofrgay-men and women said_thatopen an onest se
disclosure was the man-wavthey maintained and deepened their committed relationshiØS'.
If less skilled partners-camlearnwuse self-disclosure then this could bring several benefits
to the relationships in terms ofßeepening satisfaction and this shows there is
teal,life application for this theory, which is a strength.
