Self-disclosure theory can be described as revealing personal information about oneself to others. In terms of online dating self-disclosure is how daters develop interpersonal relationships, as well as progress in relationships while using computer mediated communication. Self-disclosure facilitates the establishment and maintenance of interpersonal relationships by generating liking and intimate feelings (Dindia, 2002). Self-disclosure plays an important role in building and maintaining intimate relationships. In terms of online dating, self-disclosure is measured by breadth, which is the number of areas that are disclosed and depth which refers to the superficial personal dimension (Utz, 2014).
So you may be wondering what exactly is self-disclosure? Well self-disclosure can be described as any personal information that is shared with others. One may view self-disclosure as forms of conversation while trying to get to know someone. In the online dating field self-disclosure is key in communication. In online dating the only way yo develop a relationship with someone is by communicating via messages in the beginning. Once the first message is sent and the communication begins to progress self-disclosure is what maintains the relationship. The more personal information being shared the more intimate the relationship becomes. The goal for most when it comes to online dating is to progress offline, self-disclosure allows daters to become comfortable enough to take the online dating from computer mediated communication (the internet) to face-to-face encounters. Self- disclosure can be broken down into three different categories in terms of online dating based on reason.
Self-disclosure in a relationship does determine the progression of the relationship, but can also be stopped based on daters not wanting to share information any longer. Once the self-disclosure is stopped one dater can become demanding or shut down as with their exchange of self-disclosure. An example of this would be Kelly decides she's going to give Ben an ultimatum, unless he opens up to her more about his family background she is leaving him, Ben then shuts down and no longer communicates the way Kelly is use to. This lack of communication causes them to break up. In this example Kelly wanted Ben to disclose more information by demanding that she received it from Ben in the time frame in which she wanted, Ben then shut down based on these demands because the self-disclosure was being forced rather than volunteered.
There are three way in which individuals self-disclose information based on their motivations, they include:
Individual focus- personal motivations: In terms of online dating daters could have their own goals when it comes to online dating. In depends on what a dater wants from the communication between them and the other dater. An example of this would be someone who wants to get married, so they disclose information solely that portrays them as a good spouse.
Relational focus- expected relationship development. Relational focus suggests that daters disclose information based on the progression of the relationship. If a dater feels that the level of the relationship is in a place they can share personal secrets that they feel their partner can relate to, the exchange of those secrets will begin because a level of trust has been established based one the amount each dater has disclosed.
Situational environment focus- availability. The situational environment depends on the availability of either dater, meaning if a dater one dater is in a place to disclose information over another they will, in terms of online dating ideally, both daters are in a place where they disclose information equally in order for the relationship to continue.
So you may be wondering what exactly is self-disclosure? Well self-disclosure can be described as any personal information that is shared with others. One may view self-disclosure as forms of conversation while trying to get to know someone. In the online dating field self-disclosure is key in communication. In online dating the only way yo develop a relationship with someone is by communicating via messages in the beginning. Once the first message is sent and the communication begins to progress self-disclosure is what maintains the relationship. The more personal information being shared the more intimate the relationship becomes. The goal for most when it comes to online dating is to progress offline, self-disclosure allows daters to become comfortable enough to take the online dating from computer mediated communication (the internet) to face-to-face encounters. Self- disclosure can be broken down into three different categories in terms of online dating based on reason.
Self-disclosure in a relationship does determine the progression of the relationship, but can also be stopped based on daters not wanting to share information any longer. Once the self-disclosure is stopped one dater can become demanding or shut down as with their exchange of self-disclosure. An example of this would be Kelly decides she's going to give Ben an ultimatum, unless he opens up to her more about his family background she is leaving him, Ben then shuts down and no longer communicates the way Kelly is use to. This lack of communication causes them to break up. In this example Kelly wanted Ben to disclose more information by demanding that she received it from Ben in the time frame in which she wanted, Ben then shut down based on these demands because the self-disclosure was being forced rather than volunteered.
There are three way in which individuals self-disclose information based on their motivations, they include:
Individual focus- personal motivations: In terms of online dating daters could have their own goals when it comes to online dating. In depends on what a dater wants from the communication between them and the other dater. An example of this would be someone who wants to get married, so they disclose information solely that portrays them as a good spouse.
Relational focus- expected relationship development. Relational focus suggests that daters disclose information based on the progression of the relationship. If a dater feels that the level of the relationship is in a place they can share personal secrets that they feel their partner can relate to, the exchange of those secrets will begin because a level of trust has been established based one the amount each dater has disclosed.
Situational environment focus- availability. The situational environment depends on the availability of either dater, meaning if a dater one dater is in a place to disclose information over another they will, in terms of online dating ideally, both daters are in a place where they disclose information equally in order for the relationship to continue.