Communication Theories and Concepts:
Penetration Theory, Self-Disclosure, Uncertainty
Theory, and Relational Dialectics Theory
Penetration Theory (SPT)
according to the following factors:
SPT is a theory about the development of “relational
Relational closeness can progress from superficial
Closeness develops through self-disclosure.
Stability and security
“Please listen carefully and try to hear
what I am not saying . . .
What I'd like to be able to say . . .
What for survival I need to say . . .
But what I can't say." - Unknown
Self-disclosure is sharing with someone
information which helps him or her understand you. Self-disclosure is most
revealing when the sharing is in the present and least revealing when the
sharing is about the past. -- D. Johnson, Reaching Out:Interpersonal
Effectiveness and Self-Actualization (Boston: Allyn and Bacon) 1997 ,p.33.
The story always represents the storyteller
(the person disclosing).
SD stimulates feedback. The quality
of the feedback is related to the amount and relevance of self-disclosure
we receive and share with others.
Self-disclosure can be most revealing or least
** S. Jourard (in The Transparent Self)
defines self-disclosure as making ourselves "transparent" to others through
our communication--i.e., when we tell others things about ourselves which
help them to see our uniqueness as a human being.
** Culpert distinguishes between self-description
vs. self-disclosure. Self-description involves communication that levels
"public layers" whereas self-disclosure involves communication that reveals
more private, sensitive, and confidential information.
** Pearce & Sharp make an interesting
distinction among three related terms: Self-discloure, confession, and
of Self Disclosure Research
Self-disclosure -- voluntarily communication
of information about one's self to another.
Confession -- forced or coerced communication
of information about one's self to another.
Revelation -- unintentional or inadvertent
communication of information about one's self to another.
Disclosure increases with increased relational
Disclosure increases with the need to reduce
uncertainty in a relationship.
Disclosure tends to be reciprocal.
Disclosure tends to be incremental.
Disclosure tends to be symmetrical.
Liking is related to positive disclosure,
but not to negative ones.
Positive disclosure does not necessarily increase
with the intimacy of the relationship; but negative disclosure is directly
related to the intimacy of the relationship.
Relational satisfaction and disclosure have
a curvilinear relationship -- satisfaction is highest with moderate levels
Reduction Theory (URT)
Three ways we learn
Presumes that “the beginning of personal relationships
are fraught with uncertainities” (C. Berger).
Presumes that people want to reduce uncertainty
in relationships through knowledge and understanding.
Dialectics Theory (RDT)
Passive strategies -- we observe the person,
either in situations where the other person is likely to be self-monitoring
(a reactivity search) as in a classroom, or where the other person is likely
to act more naturally (a disinhibition search) as in the stands at a football
Active strategies -- we ask others about the
person we're interested in or try to set up a situation where we can observe
that person (e.g., taking the same class, sitting a table away at dinner).
Once the situation is set up we sometime observe
(a passive strategy) or talk with the person (an interactive strategy).
Interactive strategies -- we communicate directly
with the person.
Relationships reflect tensions (conflicts,
contradictions) that are played out in communication interaction (dialectical
Relationships are “organized around the dynamic
interplay of opposing tendencies” (L. Baxter & B. Montgomery)
Certainty and Uncertainty
The tension between connectedness and separateness
is if one person wins the relationship as a whole loses.
No relationship can exist by definition unless
the parties sacrifice some individual autonomy. However, too much connection
paradoxically destroys the relationship because individuals’ identities
become lost. (Baxter & Montgomery)
Openness and Closedness
Uncertainty reduction theory (Berger) proposes
that people want predictability in their relationships.
In RD theory, Baxter and Montgomery claim
that people want a certain amount of mystery and spontaneity in relationships
to "spice things up." Without variety, the relationship will become dull
and too predictable, therefore, "emotionally dead."
Social penetration theorist Altman asserts
that self-disclosure and privacy operate in a cyclical fashion over time.
Baxter and Montgomery concur, claiming that
relationships aren’t on a straight-line path to intimacy, either.
They argue that a person has an urge to "tell
all" but at the same time, vies for secrecy in a never-ending cycle that
Identify a relationship:
Employer or Supervisor
Family member (sibling, parent, child)
Member of this class
Step Two: Rate
the items that follow using the following scale:
1- would definitely self-disclose
2- would probably self-disclose
3-uncertain if I would self-disclose
4-would probably not self-disclose
5-would definitely not self-disclose
into Practice: Guidelines for Self-Disclosure
My religious beliefs
My attitudes toward other religions, nationalities,
My economic status
My parents’ attitudes toward other religions,
nationalities, ethnic groups
My feelings about my parents
My past intimate relationships
My ideal mate
My sexual fantasies
My doubts about myself
My hopes and fears
My drinking and/or drug-taking behavior
My political beliefs
My job satisfaction or dissatisfaction
My relationship satisfaction or dissatisfaction
My feelings about the people in the relevant
group (e.g., classmates, workmates, family members)
Case Study Questions
Is the time, place, and information appropriate
Is the audience appropriate for your self-disclosure?
Might the information you are about to disclose
reflect badly on others known to the group?
Will your self-disclosure demonstrate respect
for another individual's or group's opinion?
Is the situation one in which you trust the
other person(s) to listen and show courtesy toward you?
How much personal detail do you need to go
into? Might you embarrass yourself or others?
Do you have a relationship with the other
person(s) which allows for mutual disclosure? How close are you to the
Have you developed adequate rapport with the
other person? Do you feel pressured to self-disclose? Is this something
you really want to do?
Theory into Practice: Guidelines for Self-Disclosure
Can you trust the other person(s) to maintain
confidentiality if necessary?
Do you feel comfortable self-disclosing in
the situation you are in?
What impact will your self-disclosure have
on the other person?
How would you characterize the relationships
in the video case?
What are the key events or focus points?
What theories apply, if any, to the case
(what concepts, what ideas)?
What communication insights or lessons
are revealed (if any)?