Running head: SELF-DISCLOSURE, GENDER, AND COMMUNICATION 1 Self- Disclosure, Gender, and Communication Gary Wayne McCoy COM 200 Interpersonal Communications Instructor: Jennifer Chagala February 11, 2012 SELF-DISCLOSURE, GENDER, AND COMMUNICATION 2 “Self-Disclosure, Gender, and Communication” Communication is one of the most important things in our lives. Quality communication in marriage is defined as the interpersonal, transactional, symbolic process by which marriage partners achieve and maintain understanding of each other (Montgomery, 1981). Marriage and communication are far more complicated than it seems. This paper will discuss the self-disclosure in …show more content…
I agree with this article that communicating about things other than daily duties can keep the relationship strong. Being able to communicate about things with substance on a daily basis is a good way to keep in touch with your spouse rather you are married or just in a relationship status. When dealing with communication, I tend to hear only what I want to hear, or do not listen all the time. This type of situation can have a big impact being in a relationship. In the article, by Nara Schoenberg, the author discusses how true active listening can lead to more rewarding relationships and marriages. This is a true statement, because I know first hand what it feels like to be in type of situation. In conclusion, self-disclosure is important in relationship. “These mutual disclosures have increased your vulnerability to being hurt or taken advantage of by the other person, and fact that you have invested so much of yourself may make it difficult to disrupt or to end the relationship” (Sole, 2011). As mentioned above, genders have many roles that are different but share some similarities. Rather being married or in a relationship, quality communication is the key to successful relationship. I hope one day that I will find a partner to share this information with one day. SELF-DISCLOSURE, GENDER, AND
Self-disclosure is an important part of any close relationship. Without sharing our own fears and weaknesses, we can
This article by Deborah Tannen, written in 1990, addresses the differences between the communication styles of men and women and some of the ensuing problems that arise from these divergent behaviors. The article asserts "that although men tend to talk more than women in public situations, they often talk less at home. And this pattern is wreaking havoc with marriage" (p. 474). Research indicates that a majority of women state a lack of communication as the reason for seeking divorce as compared to only a few of the men. With the divorce rate at 50 percent the author says there is a "virtual epidemic of failed conversation" (p. 474) in America.
The realizations I have on self disclosure is that, it is one way of letting my self go. Letting another human being know my inner most feelings and my fears. I am a very private person and I tend to not say much about myself unless I know the person very well. I tend to not to like people who disclose a lot of information to me mainly if we do not have a very close relationship, because to me that means I also have to let them in on some of my inner most feelings. I feel like even if they are a lot of advantages to self-
Tannen starts his essay with an example of a daily situation seen in many places between men and women. It is very common to see men talking a lot within a group of friends, while the women just sits there and do not say much. However, when arriving or at home the women do all the talking and many complications arise because she believes her partner does not say much. Tanner addresses the issue by discussing the reason why men and women can’t talk, describing communication styles, and correlation between communication and marriage/divorce.
The main advantage Tannen discusses in her Essay “Sex Lies and Conversations: Why Is It So Hard for Men and Women to Talk to Each Other”, is that gender communication studies can help prevent divorce by helping both partners recognize and understand the differences in the way both genders communicate. In the article “Sex, Lies and Conversations” Tannen refers to the differences in gender communication as “cross-cultural.” According to Tannen, “Boys and girls tend to play with children of their own gender, and their sex-separate groups have different organizational structures and interactive norms” (page 240). Tannen gives examples of the differences of each gender’s interactive norms and conversational patterns to help explain this.
Bethany, I also believe that a husband and wife need a high level of self-disclosure between themselves. My marriage dissolved because only one person self-disclosed themselves to the other. Relationships grow stronger when both parties communicate well, are open with each other and disclose, honestly, their true thoughts and feelings. With gut-level communication, honest feelings, genuine emotions, and viewpoints are shared in such a way that improve and build stronger relationships (Lamberton & Minor, 2014, p. 60-61). This process does not happen easily and requires an effort by both sides to self-disclose their true feelings, fears, and important parts of themselves. Communication is vital in all relationships, especially a marriage,
According to Altman and Taylor (1973), self-disclosure is "the process of revealing personal information about oneself to one another" (p. 9). Self-disclosure in a relationship occurs in a process that proceeds through stages over time. Interpersonal exchanges between people gradually progress from superficial, non-intimate areas to deeper, more intimate layers of the self. Altman and Taylor's comparison of people's personalities to onions is "a depiction of the multilayered nature of personality" (Griffin, 2003, p. 133).
Some of the Advantages of Self-Disclosure in the Helping Relationship is that the client can identify itself with the helper based on their experiences. The helper can guide the client base on its own experience and it will be easier for the helper to understand the client. In addition, when the helper shares its personal experiences, thoughts, and feelings with its client this will help for the two to get to know each other better and bond in a better professional relationship. For example, a helper that had gone through a divorce can better understand a client going through that event. The helper can give the client some advice on how to deal with his or her feeling at that particular moment and how to overcome the heartache, disappointment,
Today, divorce has become an extremely common and a better understanding on how to maintain a healthy and happy marriage is critical. Unsuccessful communication plays a vital role in the failure of many marriages and relationships. Communication is key in all relationships and can lead to the success or failure of a marriage, depending on how the couple interacts. This effectiveness of communication is connected to the overall satisfaction of married couples. Learning more about the differences in communication styles between men and women will aid in the successful sending and receiving of messages, both verbal and nonverbal. For example, a woman might communicate in a way that has significant meaning to her. Though, the man receiving the message may translate it differently than the way she intended. The misunderstanding is because of the difference in communication style between the husband and the wife and can cause conflict and lead to future problems in the relationship. However, if the man interpreting the message were familiar with his wife’s way of communication, he may have understood and avoided a conflict situation. Becoming more aware of how one’s own self communicates will also aid in healthier communication between spouses. This literature review will discuss methods, limitations, and results associated with nonverbal communication styles, conflict because of communication, and communicated perspective-taking within relationships.
Furthermore self disclosure improves communication because we tend to understand each other’s messages or ideas addressed towards each other. We experience more or a lot of self disclosure at the early stages of new relationships and experience intimate or extreme self disclosure at later stages of our relationships. In most cases we find out that unlike men women use self disclosure as a way of strengthening their relationships and improving communication between them and other people. Also according to Randy Siegel by choosing to share ourselves, we have a better chance of communicating our authentic selves and making true connections. Self disclosure can also boost someone’s self esteem which will help him in coping within the society or simply with his or her coping abilities. Since self disclosure encourages Disclosure, it can help other people start meaningful and intimate relationship with other people in the society. People tend to feel better around you after you have disclosed certain information about you and wanting to know more about you. According also to Randy Siegel’s article, Self disclosure offers many rewards, according to authors McKay, Davis, and Fanning. They include increased self-knowledge (we know ourselves to the extent we are known), closer and more intimate relationships, and improved communication (disclosure encourages disclosure.) Sometimes when we disclose or self disclose information about ourselves
I would like to share some communication concepts that I recently learned in a class I am taking. Interpersonal communication is needed when starting any new relationship. Communication becomes vital in continuing and maintaining these relationships.The concepts are based on the importance of interpersonal communication for having a healthy marriage. Our body language and spoken words often get read the wrong way which sometimes has a negative impact on our relationship. Many times you hear that marriage changes the relationship in part because communication and other attributes fall to the wayside, “about 40 to 50 percent of married couples in the United States divorce”. I hope this letter will be a reference in helping you effectively
Communication is a vital part of everyday life. Without communication we would not be allowed to express feelings, needs or even wants. Communication is more complicated than just speaking to one another. Some families suffer from the lack of communication and it is most important to keep a good communication flow through families.
A Prominent saying state – “Good Communication is the key to a healthy relationship or marriage”; whether it may be verbal or non-verbal. Many marriages end up in divorce, because of neglecting to communicate
mastered by practicing some key areas which include active listening, managing stress, and giving emotional support by being a worthy listener. Self-disclosure, when practiced in an emotionally intelligent approach couples will be vulnerable to releasing information to each other because as a couple you build trust. When we don 't carry out this properly, it will harm any relationship. Both of these levels do work together because of the degree of information shared and being able to trust someone. Having someone you can exchange information with is just as important as someone listening to you if can 't be efficient in this it can lead to interpersonal conflict.
Communication is the foundation of any successful relationship. Partners that communicate their thoughts and feelings, along with their likes and dislikes, are more likely to regard their relationships as happy and content. Nevertheless, not every relationship can be this way, and some are even plagued with an extramarital affair, either enacted by one or both partners in the relationship. Studies show that 30-60% of American men and 20-50% of American women will have sex with someone other than their spouse while they are married (Vangelisti & Gerstenberger, 2004). This is a rather high statistic, and even though affairs are becoming more common in society today, they are still a painful experience for all involved. In articles by Afifi,