Date of Award

Summer 2004

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Psychology

Program/Concentration

Psychology

Committee Director

Valerian J. Derlega

Committee Member

Jennifer A. Morrow

Committee Member

Frederick G. Freeman

Call Number for Print

Special Collections LD4331.P65 M472 2004

Abstract

Self-disclosure refers to what individuals reveal about themselves to others. This topic has been a focus of research by social psychologists, communication scientists and others for several decades. The current study aims to contribute to research in this area by examining the topics of self-disclosure of college students. Archival data previously collected from college students were used. Research participants were asked to recall a highly personal experience when answering questions about their self-disclosure behaviors dealing with the targets of mother, father, same-sex friend and dating partner. The study developed a taxonomy of topics that were identified by college students as being highly personal, and that were either disclosed or not disclosed. Ten topics were identified through this process, and each of them was disclosed significantly more frequently than not disclosed. Gender differences in topic identification, disclosure overall and within topic, as well as intimacy ratings of topics were also explored. This research contributes to the understanding of what college students identify as highly personal information, what they are willing to disclose, and how factors such as gender and intimacy of disclosure information affect self-disclosure.

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In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

DOI

10.25777/0t60-a546

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