Social Penetration Theory
Founder of the theory The founders of the theory were Irwin Altman and Dalmas Taylor. Altman is a distinguished professor of psychology 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 and predictable and it is also include deterioration or growing apart. This theory also claims that people’s relationships will progress through four stages; orientation stage, exploratory affective exchange stage, affective exchange stage and stable exchange stage, before reaching stability where communication is open and partners are highly intimate.
Moreover, Social Penetration theory asserts that as relationships develop people communication from superficial to deeply personal topics, slowing penetrating the communicators’ public persona to reach their core personality or sense of self. Initially viewed as a direct, continuous penetration from public person to private person, social penetration is considered to be a cyclical and dialectical. Relationships have normal ebbs and flows. They do not automatically get better and better where the participants learn more and more about each other.
Instead, the participants have to work through the tensions of the relationship (the dialectic) while they learn and group themselves in a relationships. At times the relationships are very open and sharing. Other time, one or both parties to the relationship need their space, or have other concerns, and the relationship is less open. The theory posits that these cycles occur throughout the life of the relationship as the persons try to balance their needs for privacy and open relationship. People allow others to penetrate their public self when they disclose personal information. The decision to disclose is based on the perceived ewards the person will gain if he or she discloses information. If a person perceives that the cause of disclosing information is greater that the rewards for disclosing information than no information will be disclosed. The larger the reward – cost ratio the more disclosure takes place. If you think to the relationships you have been in you will probably find that in almost all of them more disclosure took place at the out sets of the relationship than at any other place. That happens because people initially disclose superficial information that costs very little if another person finds it out.
Future Development of The Theory To understand the proximity relationship between two people, Irwin Altman and Dalmas Taylor (1973) conceptualized a theory called Social Penetration. Both made extensive studies in an area of social ties on various types of couples. Their theory describes a pattern of relationship development, a process which they identify as social penetration. Social penetration refers to a bonding process in which a relationship of individuals to move from superficial communication toward a more intimate communication.
The relationship is regular and predictable in its development. This is because the relationship is something important and ‘…already exists in the heart of our humanity’ (Rogers and Escudero, 2004). The social penetration theorist tried to interpret the complexity and predictability on a continuation of a relationship. Now, researchers have recognized that cultures varies in respect of openness as a skill in dealing, and some researchers questioned the culture of the early enthusiasm for openers in general relationship.
A good theory provides for the ability to predict what will happen in future. The Social Penetration Theory has some deficiencies in this department. First the theory originally made no reference as to whether the theory applied to both males and females alike. However, future research has shown us that males are less open than females and this could result in unpredictable results. The theory also describes the depenetration process as occurring gradually layer by layer. However research has shown that this is not the case.
In a study of individual that were romantically involve it was shown that depenetration is a more chaotic process that occurs fairly quickly. Moreover, an increase in the level of self – disclosure can be expected. With exception to these flaws, the Social Penetration Theory has proved to be a helpful model in explaining the development of relationships. References 1. Allman, I. , & Taylor, D. , (1973). Social Penetration: The Development of Interpersonal Relationships. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston. 2. Anderson, R. , & Ross, V. 1998) Questions of communication: A practical introduction to theory (2nd ed. ). New York: St. Martin’s Press. 3. Cragan, J. F. , & Shields, D. C. (1998). Understanding communication theory: The communicative forces for human action. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon. 4. Griffin, E. (1997). A first look at communication theory (3rd ed). New York: McGraw-Hill. 5. Littlejohn, S. W. (1999). Theories of human communication (6th ed). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. 6. Social Penetration Theory http://oak. cats. ohiou. edu 7. Social Penetration Theory http://oregonstate. edu/instruct/theory/spt. html
