Chapter 10 Social Penetration Theory
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What were Altman and Taylor trying to understand when they developed social penetration theory (SPT)?
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to understand relational closeness between two people
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To what does "social penetration" refer?
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Process of bonding that moves a relationship from superficial to more intimate.
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Does social penetration include only verbal communication? If not, what else does it include?
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It includes non-verbal too...?
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Is everyone's relationship the same in their social penetration?
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No...?
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What are the assumptions of SPT, and what does each of them mean?
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1) Relationship progress from non-intimate to intimate 2) Relational Development is generally 3) Relational development includes depenetration and dissolution 4) Self-disclosure is at the core of relational development
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What was the analogy used in Social Penetration Theory?
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The onion, the outer layer is our public image and the inner lay is more of who we are really.
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What is the role of self-disclosure in Social Penetration Theory?
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it is how relationships get from strangers to best friends and/or lovers.
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8. What are we talking about when we discuss the breadth and depth of self-disclosure?
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We have breath [number of topics discussed in a relationship] breath time[amount of time spent discussing various topics] Depth [degree of intimacy.]
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What is at risk with deep disclosure?
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People can use it against you.
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In what way is Social Penetration Theory an economic model? What are costs and rewards, and what are their characteristics?
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Rewards/cost ration is a balance between positive and negative relationship experiences. Rewards being positives and Costs being negatives of a relationship.
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What are the four stages of social penetration, and how is each characterized?
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Orientation[revealing little bits of ourselves to others] Exploratory Affective Exchange[ emergence of one's personality] Affective Exchange[Spontaneous communication; use of person idioms Stable exchange[ Efficient communication; establishment of a personal system of communication.
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For critique of SPT remember that...
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it was criticized because self-disclosure does not necessarily proceed in a linear progression, but Social Penetration Theory is thought to have strong heuristic value.
