Social Penetration Theory

The process of bonding, where people move from superficial communication to more intimate communication. By: Brittany Shuler & Elise Masquelier

Components:
Physical intimacy Intellectual intimacy

Emotional intimacy
Sharing activities Verbal behaviors

Non verbal behaviors

Environmental awareness

Assumptions:
1. Relationships progress from nominal to intimate. 2. Relationships are systematic and predictable.

3. Relationships include depenetration and

dissolution. 4. Self disclosure is the core of the relationship.

Aspects:
Working through emotions Reconcile the merging of families

Starts slowly
Moves in an organized manner Exchanging of intimate information

Depenetration and Dissolution

A relationship can fall apart or depenetrate, which

can lead to the dissolution or ending of the relationship. Example: Ones past could alter the feelings and thoughts of the partner and cause them to want to dissolve the relationship. When a relationship depentrates, it does not mean that it will dissolve. Instead, periods of transgression can occur. If one breaks a rule or doesnt meet expectations it can cause a slowing of the relationship. Example: Cheating, lying or lack of motivation.

Self Disclosure & Cost/Reward

Self Disclosure is the purposeful process of revealing

personal information about oneself

Self disclosure creates more intimacy

It allows the couple to become closer to each other

A relationship relies on an having more rewards (positive

experiences) than costs (negative experiences)

Costs impact the relationship more than rewards

Stranger-On-A-Train/Plane
Revealing personal

information to a complete stranger. One does this because they feel that they will never see this person again.

Stages:
Orientation- revealing small parts of ourselves Exploratory- emergence of personality

Affective- spontaneous and comfortable for relational

partners Stable- complete openness

Clips:
Orientation Stage: Big Bang Theory; Penny

and Leonard's first date

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ld9NkJJX

vwE Self Disclosure: http://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video; _ylt=A0oG7melfHBSIRkA_aNXNyoA?p=too+ much+on+a+first+date&fr=hp-pvdt&fr2=pivweb