Understanding Unconventional Methods of Self-Disclosure in New Relationships

Authors

• Brandon Lepard, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

Spring 3-8-2018

Document Type

Article

Citation

Lepard, B. (2018). Understanding Unconventional Methods of Self-Disclosure in New Relationships.

Comments

Copyright Brandon Lepard 2018

Abstract

Previous literature on the subject of self-disclosure in new relationships has failed to go into depth about the reasons why negatively-valenced self-disclosure can draw people closer together. In this study, the impact of personality type on the relational success of unconventional methods of self-disclosure is explored. The participants of the study were eight male, caucasian college-aged students who were each individually interviewed. The results of the study show that that personality type can play a large role in the relational success of such unconventional disclosure techniques, as well as the relational trajectory. Extraverts were more likely to positively react to unconventional methods of self-disclosure, as well as to escalate and maintain relational closeness in personal experiences with such self-disclosure. In addition, while people who self-identify as both introverted and extraverted will be less likely to self-disclose themselves, they will still generally feel more comfortable with an individual who engages in unconventional methods of self-disclosure with them first, and will tend to experience temporary relational closeness followed by de-escalation in personal experiences of relationships that began with unconventional methods of self-disclosure.