Social Penetration Theory! Summary and Explanation!

00:02:50
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ai-c9VQZAMk

Summary

TLDRThe Social Penetration Theory, developed by Erwin Altman and Dolmas Taylor in 1973, explains the progression of interpersonal relationships through self-disclosure. This process is often illustrated by the 'onion model,' where the outer layers represent superficial information and the inner layers symbolize deeply personal information. The theory emphasizes two key concepts: breadth, the wide range of topics disclosed, and depth, the intimate level of self-disclosure. Relationships typically begin with shallow exchanges in the orientation stage and can progress through stages of deeper disclosure, such as the exploratory affective stage and the stable stage, until reaching the deep penetration stage where withdrawal occurs as costs of disclosure are perceived to outweigh benefits. This theory applies to both face-to-face and online interactions.

Takeaways

  • 🔑 Social Penetration Theory explains relationship deepening through self-disclosure.
  • 🧅 The onion model illustrates layers of personal disclosure.
  • 📚 Breadth covers the range of disclosed topics.
  • 🔍 Depth refers to the intimacy of disclosed information.
  • 🤝 Initial self-disclosure is reciprocal and shallow.
  • 🔄 Five stages of disclosure: orientation, exploratory affective, affective, stable, and deep penetration.
  • 💬 Most friendships remain at the exploratory affective stage.
  • ❤️ Affective stage involves personal, private disclosure and relationship development.
  • 🔗 Stable stage signifies predictability in reactions and interactions.
  • 🚫 Deep penetration stage may lead to relationship withdrawal.

Timeline

  • 00:00:00 - 00:02:50

    Social Penetration Theory was developed in 1973 by Erwin Altman and Dallas Taylor to explain how relationships deepen through self-disclosure. This involves voluntarily sharing personal aspects like history, feelings, and values, depicted as peeling back layers of an onion. Outer layers represent surface-level information, while inner layers reveal deeply personal details. Breadth refers to the range of topics shared, while depth involves the details and willingness to disclose. The theory outlines five stages of self-disclosure: 1) Orientation stage involves superficial chatter, 2) Exploratory affective stage includes more personal opinions, 3) Affective stage where private matters are shared, 4) Stable stage with open and predictable interactions, and 5) Deep penetration when disclosure is withdrawn as the costs outweigh benefits, potentially ending the relationship. These stages apply to both face-to-face and online interactions.

Mind Map

Video Q&A

  • What is the main concept of Social Penetration Theory?

    Social Penetration Theory explains how and why relationships deepen through self-disclosure.

  • Who developed Social Penetration Theory?

    Erwin Altman and Dolmas Taylor developed the theory in 1973.

  • What analogy is used to describe self-disclosure in this theory?

    The onion model is used to describe the process of self-disclosure.

  • What do 'breadth' and 'depth' mean in this context?

    'Breadth' is the range of topics disclosed, while 'depth' is the level of detail shared.

  • How is self-disclosure described in the beginning of a relationship?

    Self-disclosure is reciprocal and involves shallow information sharing initially.

  • What are the stages of self-disclosure according to this theory?

    Stages are orientation, exploratory affective, affective, stable, and deep penetration stages.

  • At what stage do casual friendships typically remain?

    Most casual friendships remain in the exploratory affective stage.

  • What signifies the deep penetration stage?

    Trust and deeper self-disclosure are outweighed by the perceived costs, leading to withdrawal.

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  • 00:00:00
    hello everybody today I'm going to be
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    talking to you about the social
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    penetration Theory social penetration
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    theory was developed in 1973 by Erwin
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    Altman and dolmas Taylor and the theory
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    seeks to explain why and how we begin to
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    deepen relationships in the very first
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    interaction with the person and how we
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    further deepen our relationships through
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    the idea of self disclosure self
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    disclosure is the voluntary sharing of
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    personal history preferences attitudes
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    feelings and values or in other words
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    active sharing personal aspects in
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    information of lives of your life to
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    others a common comparison made in this
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    theory to describe the process of self
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    disclosure is the onion model
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    essentially people's lives and
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    personalities have multiple layers like
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    an onion in this model the outer layers
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    are more trivial and shallow describing
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    things such as tastes studies preference
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    of music and clothing whereas the inner
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    layers are more deeply personal with
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    information like goals aspiration
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    religion fears and fantasy even concept
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    of self the more you can continue to
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    interact with the person the more likely
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    you are to peel back the layers to each
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    other's core values and get a more
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    intimate relationship with them to fully
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    explain self disclosure and the concepts
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    it covers Altman and Taylor used two key
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    terms breadth and depth to start breadth
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    describes the many facets of an
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    individual's life this includes dating
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    work studies family and hobbies whereas
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    depth describes the details that
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    pertains to a person's breath and the
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    degree of disclosure a person is willing
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    to give when it comes to both of these
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    topics it's important to remember that
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    self disclosure especially at the
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    beginning of a relationship is
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    reciprocal now Altman also uses a five
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    step process to describe the idea of
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    self disclosure in relationships the
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    first stage is the orientation stage or
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    the small talk stage this is where
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    communicators become acquainted mainly
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    looking at dress and mannerisms and it
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    is heavily tied by social norms if
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    you're at a party meeting someone for
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    the first time you usually just talk
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    about things like the weather and not
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    your insecurities or some weird rash you
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    have number two is exploratory affective
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    stage we're communicators share more
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    about themselves like opinions of sports
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    teams and politics casual friendships
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    start here and this is where most of our
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    relationships end up and stay number
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    three is effective stage communicators
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    disclose personal and private matters
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    here people are more comfortable to
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    argue and criticize and romantic
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    relationships begin to develop number
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    four is going to be our stable stage
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    communicator share an open comfortable
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    relationship and oftentimes people can
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    predict how the other person may react
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    to certain things
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    number five is our last and final stage
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    this is gonna be deep penetration when
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    one or both communicators start to
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    believe the costs of self disclosure
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    outweigh the benefits
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    so they'll withdraw from using that self
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    disclosure thus ending the relationship
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    whether it be face to face or online
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    this theory can apply to every
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    interaction we have so next time you
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    meet someone for the first time think
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    about how an onion may help you
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    socialize thank you so much for
  • 00:02:47
    listening I hope this helped for anybody
  • 00:02:48
    out there
Tags
  • Social Penetration Theory
  • Self-disclosure
  • Communication
  • Relationship
  • Onion model
  • Breadth
  • Depth
  • Interpersonal
  • Altman
  • Taylor