Social Penetration Theory Research Paper
Devin Golden
3 November 2014
Comm. Theory
Professor McClanahan
Social Penetration Theory
Social Penetration theory, is something we have used in our everyday lives. The founders of Social Penetration theory, were Irwin Altman, and Dalmas Taylor. (Griffin 114) Altman was a professor of psychology at the University of Utah, and like his counterpart, Taylor was a professor of psychology at the University of Texas in Arlington. They developed this theory to understand the closeness between two individuals. (Griffin 114) Our book, uses the example of onions to explain social penetration. (Griffin 115) The outer layer, is the biographical data of a person, or their outside appearance. (Griffin 115) As they go down each layer, it tells how in-depth a person is. Getting back to Altman, and Taylor though, they found that relationships develop into four stages of self disclosure. …show more content…
Nothing specific or deep is shared between the people. This stage is basically, when two people first meet and are getting to know each other. The interaction is more of getting to know the basics about the person. (Comm. Studies) Next stage is the exploratory affective stage. Communicators begin to reveal more about themselves, such as their opinions concerning politics and sports teams. Deeply personal information is withheld. Casual friendships develop at this stage, and most relationships stay at this level. (Comm. Studies) Then begins the affective stage, which is where things in a relationship become more serious. Communicators, or the people in the relationship, talk about personal matters, that they normally would not share with other people. This is the stage when a romantic relationship begins to develop. At the last stage, which is depenetration stage, is when the two parties determine the cost and rewards in the relationship. (Griffin
3 November 2014
Comm. Theory
Professor McClanahan
Social Penetration Theory
Social Penetration theory, is something we have used in our everyday lives. The founders of Social Penetration theory, were Irwin Altman, and Dalmas Taylor. (Griffin 114) Altman was a professor of psychology at the University of Utah, and like his counterpart, Taylor was a professor of psychology at the University of Texas in Arlington. They developed this theory to understand the closeness between two individuals. (Griffin 114) Our book, uses the example of onions to explain social penetration. (Griffin 115) The outer layer, is the biographical data of a person, or their outside appearance. (Griffin 115) As they go down each layer, it tells how in-depth a person is. Getting back to Altman, and Taylor though, they found that relationships develop into four stages of self disclosure. …show more content…
Nothing specific or deep is shared between the people. This stage is basically, when two people first meet and are getting to know each other. The interaction is more of getting to know the basics about the person. (Comm. Studies) Next stage is the exploratory affective stage. Communicators begin to reveal more about themselves, such as their opinions concerning politics and sports teams. Deeply personal information is withheld. Casual friendships develop at this stage, and most relationships stay at this level. (Comm. Studies) Then begins the affective stage, which is where things in a relationship become more serious. Communicators, or the people in the relationship, talk about personal matters, that they normally would not share with other people. This is the stage when a romantic relationship begins to develop. At the last stage, which is depenetration stage, is when the two parties determine the cost and rewards in the relationship. (Griffin