Social Penetration Theory

by: Shannon Curtis

Created by Irwin Altman, a distinguished Professor of Psychology at the University of Utah, and Dalmas Taylor, a Professor of Psychology at the University of Texas, social penetration can be incorporated into most any evolving relationship. According to Altman and Taylor, social penetration consists of several components...

Self-disclosure- Which consists of revealing information about one's self as a means of social penetration.
Breadth- Defined as the less intimate and more superficial elements of a relationship.
Depth- Is the degree of intimacy in a relationship.
Costs and Benefits-Which is the mental or emotional act of weighing the costs and benefits of a relationship.
Personality Structures: Multi-layered Onion- This is the idea that the layers of an individual's personality can be compared to the layers found on an onion.

This web page will incorporate all of the above mentioned items and help to better explain social penetration as presented by Altman and Taylor.

Click here to view an article summarized by Sammi on Social Penetration

Click here to view Amy's application of Social Penetration to the movie Heaven and earth

Click here to view a critique by Shannon on Social Penetration

To view another web-site created by INCO 234 students click here

To read about how the Social Exchange Theory revolves around Social Penetration's weighing of costs and benefits click here