Some Aspects of the Development of Interpersonal Relationships: Social Penetration Processes

摘要

The study is concerned with the development of interpersonal relations and with differences in developmental processes as a function of personality. The theory of social penetration provided the broader context on which the study is based. Of 695 male Ss tested, only 61 pairs (122 Ss) were used in this study. Thirty-two dyads were composed of high revealers and 29 of low revealers. Fifteen high- and 15 low-revelation pairs were used as controls for the repeated measures effect. A three dimensional factorial design with repeated measures was used. The major independent variables were (a) amount of personal information disclosed to roommate, (b) number of activities engaged in with roommate, (c) accuracy of knowledge acquired about roommate, and (d) accuracy of predictions about roommate's values and attitudes. The Ss responded to questionnaire information covering these topical areas over a 13 week interval. Other data used as a control for conditions thought to affect social penetration processes was collected at the same time. It was generally concluded that statistical support has been demonstrated for the issues dealt with in the main effects for level of intimacy, time, and personality. The hypotheses associated with the interactions of these main effects were not so clearly demonstrated in all cases.