Set Size Effects in Self-Disclosure

Abstract

Two experiments investigated set size effects in self-disclosure behavior. In Experiment 1, subjects received information about the topics a partner was willing to discuss. Set size was manipulated by giving subjects bogus information that their partner had chosen high intimacy topics (2, 4, or 6 topics). Results show that the larger the set, the greater the partner's perceived liking, trust, and intimacy. In Experiment 2, intimacy level (high or low) was crossed with set size (2, 4, or 6 intimate topics chosen). High intimacy data replicated results found in Experiment 1. A set size effect was also found for low intimacy topics but in the opposite direction, in accord with additive model predictions.