COMM 502 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Ethical Egoism, Cognitive Model, Psychological Egoism
18 Oct 2016
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Document Summary
Developed by social psychologists irwin altman and dalmas taylor, social penetration theory explains how relational closeness develops. Closeness develops only if individuals proceed in a gradual and orderly fashion from superficial to intimate levels of exchange as a function of both immediate and forecast outcomes. The main route to deep social penetration is through self-disclosure: with the onion-wedge model, the depth of penetration represents the degree of personal disclosure. The layers of the onion are tougher near the center. Peripheral items are exchanged more frequently and sooner than private information. Self-disclosure is reciprocal, especially in early stages of relationship development. Penetration is rapid at the start, but slows down quickly as the tightly wrapped inner layers are reached. Most relationships stall before a stable intimate exchange is established. Genuine intimate exchange is rare but when it is achieved, relationships become meaningful and enduring. Depenetration is a gradual process of layer-by-layer withdrawal.
