Social Penetration

Communication Theory
A professor at psychology at the
University of Utah
 Now deceased, was provost and
professor of psychology at Lincoln
University in Pennsylvania
The process of developing deeper
intimacy with another person through
mutual self-disclosure and other
forms of vulnerability.
Onion-like layers of belief and feeling about self, others and
the world; deeper layers are more vulnerable, protected and
central to self image.
Superficial

Social layer

Deepest layer
 San Yon
Venus is the second planet Mars is actually a very cold
from the Sun place

Roku Nana Hachi

It’s composed of hydrogen It’s the farthest planet from
Jupiter is the biggest planet
and helium the Sun
The voluntary sharing of personal history,
preference, attitudes, feelings, etc., with
another person; transparency.
The breadth and depth of self-disclosure

Depth of Penetration Breadth of Penetration

You are sharing something at a

You are disclosing but at the same
deeper level.
level as your current relationship.
Table Of Contents

Peripheral items are exchanged You can describe the topic of the section right
more frequently and sooner than herePenetration is rapid at the start but slow
private information. down quickly as the tightly wrapped inner
layers.

Depenetration is a gradual process of

Self-disclosure is reciprocal,
layer-by-layer withdrawal.
especially in the early stages of
relationship development.