Social Penetration Theory Flashcards, test questions and answers

Discover flashcards, test exam answers, and assignments to help you learn more about Social Penetration Theory and other subjects. Don’t miss the chance to use them for more effective college education. Use our database of questions and answers on Social Penetration Theory and get quick solutions for your test.

What is Social Penetration Theory?

The Social Penetration Theory (SPT) is a communication theory developed by Irwin Altman and Dalmas Taylor in 1973. SPT explains the process of relationship development between individuals as an ongoing cycle of increasingly intimate levels of self-disclosure. The theory states that relationships progress from superficial to more intimate levels over time, through a gradual process of disclosure and increasing trust. According to the SPT, as two people become closer emotionally, they exchange more personal information with each other. At the beginning stages of a relationship, individuals tend to discuss topics such as hobbies or interests rather than discussing their feelings and emotions. As the relationship progresses however, deeper conversations occur, which eventually lead to revealing personal experiences such as family dynamics or past traumas. If both parties are comfortable enough sharing those details with each other then it can signify a strong level of commitment within the relationship. One important thing to note about this theory is that there is no predetermined timeline for when relationships should reach certain levels intimacy; different relationships have different paths and paces at which they progress along them. There are also factors outside one’s control that affect how quickly partners move forward in their journey towards developing an intimate bond for example cultural norms may dictate expectations around how quickly couples disclose confidential information about themselves with one another.