Date of Award

Summer 2005

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Psychology

Committee Director

Valerian Derlega

Committee Member

Michelle Kelley

Committee Member

Elaine Justice

Abstract

This study examined what topics (including experiences, feelings, and thoughts) people define as positive self-disclosure. The study also looked at reasons people generate for self-disclosing versus not disclosing something positive. Male and female students spontaneously described a past experience or feeling they perceive to be personal and positive. They then indicated whether or not they disclosed about these experiences or feelings to their father, mother, same-sex friend, and a past or present significant other/spouse. These descriptions were coded into one of eight categories: Religion, Family Development, Friendship, Sex, Romance, Self-Confidence, Achievement, and Helping Behavior, plus a Miscellaneous category. There were no gender differences in the self-descriptions provided by the participants and no gender differences in the frequency of disclosure of these positive self-descriptions. This study also examined differences in disclosure about various positive topics as a function of type of relationship. Disclosure generally was highest to a same-sex friend and dating partner, intermediate to a mother, and least common to a father.

Rights

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

10.25777/8maw-e557

ISBN

9780542358838

Download

Share

COinS