The voluntary sharing of personal history, prferences, attitudes, feelings, values, secrets, etc., with another person; transparency.
Social Penetration
The process of developing deeper intimacy with another person through mutual disclosure and other forms of vulnerability.
Social Exchange Theory
Relationship behavior and status regulated by both parties' evaluations of perceived rewards and costs of interaction with each other.
Social exchange theorists assume that we can accurately gauge the payoffs of a variety of interactions and that we have the good sense to choose the action that will provide the best result.
Depth and Breadth are equally important in the process of social penetration.
Comparison level of Alternatives (CL Alt)
Onion Metaphor
Altman & Taylor
likens people to onion-like layers of beliefs & feelings about self, others & world, deeper layers are more vulnerable, protected and self-image.
Depenetration
is a gradual process of layer-by-layer withdrawal.
Relational retreat is a sort of taking back of what has earlier been exchanged in the building of a relationship.
Relationships are likely to terminate not in an explosive flash of anger but in a gradual cooling off of enjoyment and care.
Comparison level (CL)
Law of Reciprocity
A paced and orderely process in which openness in one person leads to openness in the other; "You tell me your dream; I'll tell you mine."