Sharing Personal Information

Self-DisclosurePrivacyFeelings

Self-Disclosure

• Defined- divulging biographical data, personal ideas, and feelings.

Balance

• Important to have correct balance in relationship of self-disclosure and privacy.

• What is the correct balance?

Social Penetration Theory

• “Onion Peel” Theory

Johari Window

Gender and Cultural Differences

• Culture- Appropriateness of Self-Disclosure varies from culture to culture, making intercultural communication even more challenging.

• Gender- Women disclose more and are disclosed to more than men. Men engage in report-talk and women engage in rapport-talk.

Guidelines for Appropriate Self-Disclosure

• Pages 235-236• 1. Self-Disclose the kind of information

you want others to disclose to you.

Guidelines

• 2. Self-Disclose more intimate information only when you believe the disclosure represents acceptable risk.

Guidelines

• 3. Continue intimate self-disclosure only if it is reciprocated.

Guidelines

• 4. Move Self-Disclosure to deeper levels gradually.

Final Guideline

• 5. Reserve the most personal and sensitive self-disclosure for ongoing, intimate relationships.

Sharing Feelings

• Describing feelings- naming emotions you are feeling without judging them.

• Displaying Feelings- expressing feelings through facial reactions, body responses, or paralinguistic reactions.

• Masking Feelings- concealing verbal or nonverbal cues that would enable others to understand the emotions that a person is actually feeling.

Managing Privacy

• Change the subject

• Tell a “white lie”

Next Class

• Bring your popcorn and candy!• Movie Time with a paper assignment to

take home after.