Factors Affecting Attraction: Self-Disclosure - Evaluation

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  • Factors Affecting Attraction: Self-Disclosure
    • Support from Research Studies
      • Sprecher and Hendrick (2004)
        • Studied heterosexual dating couples
        • Individuals who used self-disclosure, and believed their partner did too, were more satisfied and committed to the relationship.
      • Laurenceau (2005)
        • FINDINGS
          • Sprecher and Hendrick (2004)
            • Studied heterosexual dating couples
            • Individuals who used self-disclosure, and believed their partner did too, were more satisfied and committed to the relationship.
          • STRENGTH: because of supportive research findings - increases confidence in validity of theory.
            • Self-disclosure leads to more satisfying relationships.
              • HOWEVER!
                • Self-Disclosure and Satisfaction
                  • Theory suggests that relationship breakdown = less self-disclosure
                  • Duck suggests that breakdown = more self-disclosure, often very intimate, in an attempt to save relationship - though it may not be enough.
                    • Increased self-disclosure does not enhance the relationship
                      • THEREFORE:
                        • LIMITATION: Challenges theory because deeper self-disclosure does not lead to a deeper relationship in these circumstances
        • Found that self-disclosure & perception of self-disclosure in partner = higher levels of intimacy in long-term married couples.
          • Reverse is also true. Less imitate couples = self-disclose less often.
        • Participants wrote daily diary entries.
          • ADDITIONAL POINT: This is a weakness of research. Self report = unreliable - social desirability bias.
            • May want their relationship to appear more secure than it is.
    • Real-Life Applications
      • Hass and Stafford (2998)
      • 57% of homosexuals said open and honest self-disclosure = maintained and deepened their committed relationships.
        • ADDITIONAL POINT: Only homosexual couples studied. Therefore results cannot be generalizable to heterosexual relationships.
      • Less-skilled partners could learn self-disclosure = bring benefits to the relationship - E.G. satisfaction & commitment.
      • FINDINGS
        • STRENGTH: real-life applications demonstrates the value of psychological insights.
    • Cultural Differences
      • Tang (2013)
      • Review of research literature regarding sexual self-disclosure.
      • Concluded that both genders from individualist cultures (USA in this case) self disclosed significantly more sexual thoughts.
        • In comparison to collectivist cultures (China)
          • Both levels of self-disclosure are linked to relationship satisfaction in those cultures.
        • Both levels of self-disclosure are linked to relationship satisfaction in those cultures.
      • FINDINGS
        • LIMITATION: limited explanation, due to the findings coming from Western cultures - cannot be generalised to other cultures.
  • Laurenceau (2005)
    • FINDINGS
      • STRENGTH: because of supportive research findings - increases confidence in validity of theory.
        • Self-disclosure leads to more satisfying relationships.
          • HOWEVER!
            • Self-Disclosure and Satisfaction
              • Theory suggests that relationship breakdown = less self-disclosure
              • Duck suggests that breakdown = more self-disclosure, often very intimate, in an attempt to save relationship - though it may not be enough.
                • Increased self-disclosure does not enhance the relationship
                  • THEREFORE:
                    • LIMITATION: Challenges theory because deeper self-disclosure does not lead to a deeper relationship in these circumstances
    • Found that self-disclosure & perception of self-disclosure in partner = higher levels of intimacy in long-term married couples.
      • Reverse is also true. Less imitate couples = self-disclose less often.
    • Participants wrote daily diary entries.
      • ADDITIONAL POINT: This is a weakness of research. Self report = unreliable - social desirability bias.
        • May want their relationship to appear more secure than it is.

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