Social Penetration - 1449 Words

Why do some relationships progress quickly more than others? In order to understand this, relationship must be defined. According to Merriam-Websters Dictionary, A relationship is a type of connection existing between people that have a relation or dealing with each other. It is through the process of communication, which is the process where human beings transmit ideas, information, and attitudes to one another, that our relationships are forged. Without communication there would be no relationships involved with people. Many communication scholars have tried to study on how these relationships develop. Irwin Altman and Dalmas Taylor had developed a theory, social penetration, to explain how relationships are established and†¦show more content†¦With that being said, we move towards the affective exchange where a great deal of open exchange occurs. Claire finally admits that she is a virgin. Towards the movie the group moves towards affective exchange when they talk about their attitudes towards their parents. They all have something in common. They all dislike certain aspects of their parents. They were showing a form of self-disclosure, which involves communication about self that can deepen relationships, increase self-acceptance, and can [help] discover yourself more deeply and in turn you can solve more problems (Lindsley  ¶2); and reciprocity, which is when one person reveals something about him or herself, the other person tend to reply with similar information (Miller 169). Reciprocity is seen as a way to establish trust, and once trust is established there is little concern since unilateral disclosure carries little risk (Porter  ¶25 ). Finally at the end of the movie, they move to stable exchange where in the final scene Claire kisses John and Andrew kisses Allison. The group of five students, who at first did not get along have become close friends in the end enriched with communication, candidness [and] emotion (Brown 89 ) In most cases people desire to have the stable exchange, which is the final stage of the theory. In order to obtain the final stage people as we seen in The Breakfast Club one must learn to break down the barriers that they have built upShow MoreRelatedSocial Penetration Theory : Crazy, Love1117 Words   |  5 PagesMaggie Decena Professor McNelis September 22nd, 2017 Application of Social Penetration Theory The film Crazy, Stupid, Love depicts the dissolution of Cal Weaver’s once perfect life. High school sweethearts living in a suburban town with steady jobs and kids, Cal and his wife Emily share the illusion of a picture-perfect love story. However, when Emily reveals her act of adultery, she asks Cal for a divorce. Cal falls into a deep depression that leads him to bask in his sorrows at singles barsRead MoreSocial Penetration Theory By Irwin Altman And Dalmas1511 Words   |  7 Pages Irwin Altman and Dalmas introduces Social Penetration theory in chapter 8 and they explain the theory as â€Å"the idea that relationships become more intimate over time when partners disclose more and more information about themselves† (Littlejhon, 2002). This paper will showcase social media and how it relates to how individuals self-disclose in social penetration theory. A short history of social media and the direction it’s headed will also be included. Facebook, a platform has become a phenomenonRead MoreThe Social Penetration Theory1548 Words   |  7 PagesThe Social Penetration Theory People often times fail to realize how their communication can greatly impact their social interactions as well as aid in the formation of strong intimate relationships they may hold with their friends or even their significant other. We use communication in many forms, whether verbal or non-verbal to gain a better understanding of one another and to reduce our uncertainty towards each other. By allowing ourselves to take part in the communication process, we thereforeRead MoreSocial Penetration Theory Is Defined As The Process Of Bonding1198 Words   |  5 PagesAccording to Irwin Altman and Dalmas Taylor, Social Penetration Theory is defined as the process of bonding that moves a relationship from superficial to more intimate. The theory can be perceived as a game plan for people, especially in a relationship. This can give you guidance on how to interact with individuals in order to establish a stable, and developing relationship through interpersonal communication. For example, when you encounter someone whom you’ve never met before, you may ask someRead MoreSocial Penetration Theory827 Words   |  4 Pagespsychology at the University of Utah whereby Taylor is a professor of psychology at the University of Texas, Arlington. Altman and Taylor developed this theory to provide an understanding of the closeness between two individuals. Apparently, social penetration is defined as a process that moves a relationship from non-intimate to intimate. The theory states that this process occurs primarily through self-disclosure and it is guided by the assumptions that relationship development is systematic andRead MoreSocial Penetration Essay922 Words   |  4 PagesSocial Penetration Theory The Social Penetration Theory is an explanation by two communication theorists, Irwin Altman and Dalmas Taylor. This theory attempts to explain how relational closeness develops. Since we all have hundreds of different relationships, with thousands of different people during our lifetime, it is an important theory to study and understand. The Social Penetration Theory can be compared to an onion. The comparison stems from the idea that an onion has many layersRead MoreThe Social Penetration Theory1257 Words   |  5 Pagesthat they desire in return. The Social Penetration Theory, The Expectancy Violations Theory and Constructivism all support this general conclusion that men and women weigh out the positive and negatives when deciding on continuing friendships through communication. People will only want to communicate with those whose incentives affect them positively and can be used to help further their successes. Argument The Social Penetration Theory The Social Penetration theory theorizes how the closenessRead More Social Penetration Essay2900 Words   |  12 PagesSocial Penetration Decisions about self-disclosure - whether to reveal ones thoughts, feelings, or past experiences to another person, or the level of intimacy of such disclosure - are part of the everyday life of most persons (Derlega and Berg, 1987, p. ix). The decisions one makes on the issue of whether or not to self-disclose with others affects not only the types of relationships one will have with others and how they are perceived, but also how well they know themselves. Clearly,Read MoreEssay On Social Penetration Theory1328 Words   |  6 PagesSocial Penetration Theory (STP) explains the process of how relationships develop through self-disclosure. (Griffin, Ledbetter Sparks 2015) Through self-disclosure, closeness develops as the relationship continues to grow. To present Social Penetration Theory, I am choosing to write about a personal experience on how my best friend Taylor and I became close. I will be explaining on how Taylor and I developed our relationship overtime through self-dis closure and personality structure. As TaylorRead MoreThe Social Penetration Theory Of Communication1509 Words   |  7 Pages The Social Penetration Theory and Its Application to Plot Lines for Successful Films Everyone goes through situations in which they form new relationships with people they previously did not know. For example, when a student moves onto a college campus for his or her freshman year, the student will have to go through the process of making new friends and getting to know his or her roommate. The social penetration theory of communication explains how new relationships form