The Pros And Cons Of Self-Disclosure

1143 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The impact of self disclosure

What exactly is self-disclosure? Is it simply telling someone about you, or is there more to it than that? According to Essentials of Human Communication, self-disclosure can best be defined as “a form of communication in which information about the self that is normally kept hidden is communicated to one or more others” (DeVito 2013). A perfect example of this is how secrets are exchanged between friends once they gain one another’s trust. Other forms of self-disclosure include calling someone by the wrong name and avoiding eye contact. Throughout the course of this paper, self-disclosure will be expressed in further detail, including its influencing factors, rewards, dangers, and guidelines. First, let’s talk about what influences self-disclosure. …show more content…

The guidelines are as follows: “consider the motivation for the self-disclosure”, "consider the appropriateness of the self-disclosure”, “consider the disclosures of the other person”, and “consider the possible burdens self-disclosure might entail” (DeVito 2013). I have personally either used or violated each one of these guidelines. The guideline that I have violated is by not considering the burdens self-disclosure might entail. In the past, I have helped spread rumors about other people, simply to draw more attention to myself. In doing this, I wasn’t thinking about the feelings of others and how they could be negatively affected. By self-disclosing information that was most likely false, I put a burden on another person. I now realize that this is not a proper way to make a self-disclosure. But when it comes to the other guidelines, I believe that I have used them all correctly. Before self-disclosing, I always consider the motivation for what I am about to say, making sure it is for the good of the relationship and everyone involved. I also consider the appropriateness of the self-disclosure by making sure that the information is being told at the right place and the right time. And finally, I consider the disclosures of the other person by allowing them to disclose as

Show More
Related

  • Culminating Writing Task II

    740 Words  | 2 Pages

    Plato once said: “Honesty is for the most part less profitable than dishonesty.” People are taught from a very young age never to lie or keep secrets. It would be easy for anyone to stand behind the argument: “Honesty is the best policy,” but in times of personal anguish, that decree is quickly disdained. What this argument fails to consider is that keeping a secret or lying is the justifiable in times of crisis.

    Read More

  • An Analysis Of Gone From My Sight By Rev. Luther F. Beecher

    2013 Words  | 5 Pages

    We can choose to reveal or conceal who we are or what we want to be. We can share our innerness, the emotions derived deep within our souls and the force that creates havoc and the actions we choose to do. We can share the journeys that we have taken whether it is the right or wrong route to create a better place, a better awareness for others who have not encountered that journey yet. The self we share is dependent on the personality we have, introverted or extroverted. The trust we put forth in others is a reflection of how much of ourselves we willingly share. The self we share could include our mind, body, or soul but what does that really mean... it is all dependent on what the receiving end feels. We are who we are, what self we share and do not is all a reflection of who we are and our thinking

    Read More

  • Privacy In Peter Singer's Possible Man

    1162 Words  | 3 Pages

    “The standards of what we want to keep private and what we make public are constantly evolving. Over the course of Western history, we’ve developed a desire for more privacy, quite possibly as a status symbol…”(Singer) Technological change leads to new abuses, creating new challenges to security, but society adapts to those challenges. To meet the innate need for privacy, we learn what to reveal and where, and how to keep secret what we don't want to disclose. “Whether Facebook and similar sites are reflecting a change in social norms about privacy or are actually driving that change, that half a billion people are now on Facebook suggests that people believe the benefits of connecting with others, sharing information, networking, self-promoting, flirting, and bragging outweigh breaches of privacy that accompany such behaviours,”(Singer) This is obvious by the continuous and unceasing use of social media platforms, but what needs to be considered is that this information is being provided willingly. “More difficult questions arise when the loss of privacy is not in any sense a choice.”(Singer) When the choice to be anonymous it taken away through social media, the person loses the ability to keep their personal information

    Read More

  • Interplay: The Process Of Interpersonal Communication Analysis

    762 Words  | 2 Pages

    Firstly, Self-disclosure is a process of communication in which an individual reveals information about themselves to someone else. The information may be descriptive or evaluative, which may include thoughts, feelings, aspirations,

    Read More

  • Cognitive-Behavior Therapy: Annotated Bibliography

    1227 Words  | 3 Pages

    They argue that therapists should consider their own motivation to self-disclose and set boundaries. The therapists should never put their own needs above the client. They make sure to point out that self discourse alone cannot affect the outcome of treatment. Self-disclosure is effective only if it is used appropriately and only if it is used when it is necessary. The amount of information disclosed and when it is disclosed is also important. Therapists should draw a clear line with the amount of intimacy to include in their therapeutic disclosure to ensure that no inappropriate boundaries are crossed. The authors suggest two rules of thumb to follow when disclosing information which include: (a) “Why do I want to say what I am about to say” and (b) “What will be the likely impact of the client” (p. 567).

    Read More

  • Non Disclosure Case Study

    1116 Words  | 3 Pages

    Individual must not be seeking an order of nondisclosure for one of the following offenses:

    Read More

  • The Bachelor: Expectations For Love

    2115 Words  | 5 Pages

    Kito, M. (2005). Self-Disclosure In Romantic Relationships And Friendships Among American And Japanese College Students. The Journal of Social Psychology, 145(2), 127-140.

    Read More

  • Pros And Cons Of Communication Privacy Management Theory

    1281 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the end I believe that it is in our human nature to share not only our own stories but those of others around us. We must understand that possessing this information comes with responsibility and that there could be negative consequences with the disclosure of the same. Theories like Communication Privacy Management lead way to research in many concepts like gossip in the workplace or even expanding on its ‘”possession” concept within others. How ethical is it for one to own information that is not about oneself? Can it be used as leverage for advancement? How much does gossip in the workplace distracts from productivity? Is the boundary permeability affected only by context or are there any other factors that would directly influence

    Read More

  • Social Penetration Theory Essay

    1709 Words  | 4 Pages

    Over a period, more, and more detailed information would be exchanged. The social penetration theory can’t go without the discussion of self-disclosure as it is most important in developing relationships. Self-disclosure is the gradual unfolding of one’s self. It is defined as, “verbally communicating personal information about the self to another person (Forgas 449).” Depending on the stage of the relationship the information can range from thoughts, feelings, goals, fears, dreams, and favorites. Individuals usually maintain protective outer layers that surround a central core that represents the true self. Social Penetration theory suggests that as a relationship becomes increasingly intimate, the self-disclosures become increasingly deep (Tolstedt 85). The first hypothesis which is revealing one 's self can be compared to peeling an onion. Peeling away the layers are similar to revealing more about the self. There are four layers of information that we disclose. The first layer is the surface. In this layer, the information is shallow and usually consist of topics that do not have to be discussed. This type of information is visible information regarding the individual, which can be assessed easily. The second layer is the peripheral layer, where personal information is exchanged. The intermediate layer consists of the exchange of opinions about

    Read More

  • Social Media And Social Identity

    1435 Words  | 3 Pages

    For centuries, humans have used their interaction with one another to help shape outsiders' perceptions of them. Often communication experts refer to this as constructing one’s “social identity.” For many years, this projection of self-came through interpersonal communication; face-to-face communication or other forms of personal interaction. In the progress of technology, this development of one’s personal attributes has come to include photographs, letters, published and unpublished writings, and physical attributes. Many aspects of a person’s “identity” as others see it are difficult and almost impossible to define. In the modern age, such vague characteristics are both helped and hindered by using social media and the internet to “construct”

    Read More

  • Development of Friendship Between Roommates

    1019 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...es, I have found that too much self-disclosure too early in a relationship/friendship may lead to negative outcomes. This may occur, for example when a person self-discloses too much about themselves, leaving them vulnerable to rejection or embarassment. Also if the other person doesn't reciprocate, that could cause the self-disclosed person to feel uncomfortable. You need to build a relationship/friendship, and over time, as you disclose more, there will be a more trustworthy and supportive base to the relationship. So over all, the article did an excellent job reinforcing the importance of time in building a relationship through social penetration, or self-disclosure.

    Read More

  • Understanding How Technology is Changing Relationships

    3023 Words  | 7 Pages

    Shih, D., Hsu, S., Yen, D. C., & Lin, C. (2012). Exploring the Individual's Behavior on Self-Disclosure Online. International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction, 28(10), 627-645.

    Read More

  • Cyber Law

    1036 Words  | 3 Pages

    Privacy is the ability of an individual or group to seclude themselves or information about themselves and thereby reveal themselves selectively. The boundaries and content of what is considered private differ among cultures and individuals, but share basic common themes. Privacy is sometimes related to anonymity, the wish to remain unnoticed or unidentified in the public realm. When something is private to a person, it usually means there is something within them that is considered inherently special or personally sensitive. The degree to which private information is exposed therefore depends on how the public will receive this information, which differs between places and over time. Privacy can be seen as an aspect of security — one in which trade-offs between the interests of one group and another can become particularly clear.

    Read More

  • Social Media Blurs the Line Between Public and Private Life

    2369 Words  | 5 Pages

    Upon the advent of social networking websites, an entirely new level of self-expression was formed. People instantly share updates on their lives with family, friends, and colleagues, reconnecting with those they had lost contact with. Social networking has now become an integral part of contemporary society – a modern analog for catching up with friends over slow, conventional methods or finding upcoming events in newspapers. However, along with this freedom of information, the danger of revealing too much personal information has become apparent. As such, online social media poses an imminent danger to society as it blurs the line between private and public information, creating an obsession with sharing one’s personal life online.

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Privacy

    714 Words  | 2 Pages

    Privacy is the ability to maintain what or who can access and see your personal content and information. With that, the idea of privacy is different amongst different cultures and countries, while they all differ, they share common characteristics. The act of sharing ones own personal information is decision one must make on their own. Privacy is a right that all people should have and the government has the responsibility of maintaining that right. Data such as personal emails, bank details, medical records, and passwords need to remain safe and secure to ensure privacy is not invaded.

    Read More

More about The Pros And Cons Of Self-Disclosure

Open Document