personal learning project

Social Media Disclosure and the Social

Penetration TheoryCris Swaters | COM 609 | 10 Nov.

2010

Overview

• Social Penetration Theory• Research• Facebook and Disclosure• Conclusion

Introduction

“Ogres are like onions… we have layers”

Social Penetration Theory

• Dalmas Taylor and Irwin Altman• Social Penetration is… “the reciprocal behaviors that occur between

individuals in the development of an interpersonal relationship. These behaviors include the exchange of information, exchange of expressions of positive and negative affect, and mutual activities” (Taylor, 1968, p. 79).

• Initial study

Taylor, D. A. (1968). The development of interpersonal relationships: Social penetration processes. Journal of Social Psychology , 75(1), 79-90.

Four Levels of Disclosure

Four Levels of Disclosure

1. Orientation2. Exploratory Affective Exchange3. Affective Exchange4. Stable Exchange

Taylor, D. A. (1987). Communication in interpersonal relationships: Social penetration processes. In Roloff , M. E. & Miller, G. R. (Eds.), Interpersonal processes: New directions in communication research (pp. 257-277). Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.

Research

• Technorati• Blogs• Twitter

Technorati

• Blog search using terms:– Family– Children– Traveling

• http://amymyles.blogspot.com/

Blogs: http://sentimentsofaslone.blogspot.com/

• Extreme• Discloses

about herself and her husband

Blog: http://mamabearcarm.blogspot.com/

• Extreme• Divulges a lot of

information about her family and two children

Blog: http://shannahhayley.blogspot.com/

• Stays on the outer layer of disclosure• Doesn’t disclose husband’s name

Twitter

• Inner Layer Extreme

Twitter

• Outer Layer Extreme

Facebook Level 1

Facebook Level 2

Facebook Level 2

Facebook Level 3

Facebook Level 3

Facebook Level 4

Facebook Level 4

Facebook Level 4

Conclusion

• Social Media is an avenue for different levels of disclosure.

• Questions?