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Social Penetration Theory

Social Penetration theory was developed by IrwinAltman and Dalmas Taylor,D., (1973). to provide an

understanding of the closeness between two

individuals. It is defined as a process that moves a

relationship from non-intimate to intimate.


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We All Have Personality structures

It is multi-layered; like

an onion

Outer layer = public self

The deeper the layer,

the more private the

topic


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How to peel the layers?

Self-disclosure: the voluntary sharing of what

makes up your personality structure.

-this leads to reciprocity (openness in one person

leads to openness in the other).


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Our relationships progress through 4

stages :

Orientation : the first interaction (when they learn basic

information about each other).

Exploratory affective change : when football players spend

time together during the practices. Affective change stage : when football players becoming

comfortable enough with one another even out side of the

practice time .

Stable stage: when football players became best friends.


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Depth and Breadth

Depth of penetration: is known

as the degree in which

someone is intimate with

someone else.

Breadth of penetration (slices

of a pizza): range of areas that

disclosure occurs in

-Breadth w/ out depth=casual

relationship


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Depth and Breadth of Self-disclosure

Penetration is rapid at the start but slows down

quickly as more layers are peeled away.

penetration is a gradual process of layer-by-layer

withdrawal.

Peripheral items are exchanged more frequently and

sooner than private information.

Self-disclosure is reciprocal, especially in the earlystages of the relationship


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How to regulate closeness?

On the basis of rewards and costs

Outcome = rewards minus costs

- Minimax Principle of behavior: people seekto maximize their benefits and minimize their

costs.


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Two standards for evaluating

relationships

1) Comparison level Gauging relational

satisfaction

-W

e compare our relationships to the baseline of pastexperience. Is this better or worse than what Ive had?

2) Comparison level of Alternatives Gauging

relational stability

- We compare our relationships with what we could have. Isthere no other relationship that is more attractive than this

one?


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Dialectical model

People want both in their social relationships

Privacy Intimacy


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Communication Privacy Management

Theory

Privacy rules: Rules for revealing or concealing

private information

Boundary coordination: Two people agreeingon the same privacy rules for a given

disclosure/certain topic

Boundary turbulence: Conflict resulting from a

failure to coordinate privacy rules in a

relationship


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