The effects of initial self-disclosure on attributions of trustworthiness and liking.
Item
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Title
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The effects of initial self-disclosure on attributions of trustworthiness and liking.
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Identifier
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AAI8914790
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identifier
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8914790
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Creator
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Sidorowicz, Laura Susan.
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Contributor
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Adviser: Irwin Katz
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Date
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1988
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Psychology, Social
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Abstract
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This dissertation examined the effects resulting from an initial act of self-disclosure performed by a stranger. Specifically, the study sought to determine how the source of disclosure affects white women's responses to a person described in terms of trust and liking. The two basic aims of this research were (a) to show that self-disclosure elicits a perception of trustworthiness and (b) to demonstrate that this effect is not mediated by increased interpersonal attraction. Two hundred and eighty subjects were given a written transcript to read while listening to a tape recording of a woman disclosing information about herself (self-disclosure) or another person (non-disclosure). In addition, the information varied in terms of valence, either positive or negative information was revealed. After the information was presented, subjects rated the target person on measures of trustworthiness and liking. The main findings suggest that trustworthiness for the target person increased significantly as a direct function of self-disclosure and that liking for an individual was primarily determined by the positive or negative quality of the description. Three pilot studies also provided partial support for these findings. The results showed strong evidence which suggests that the determinants of trustworthiness and liking are basically independent of each other. The responses of males and minority subjects indicated, however, that the attribution of trustworthiness and the impact of disclosure is, in part, influenced by gender and race. The main findings have important implications for impression management and person perception. From the discloser's perspective, the study indicates that the images of trustworthiness and liking can be intentionally manufactured by the speaker based on the type of information a person provides about oneself. From the perspective of the listener, one must be conscious of the propensity to attribute trustworthiness and liking as a function of what a person says about him/herself.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
