Self-Disclosure as a Function of Self-Concept and Sex

Abstract

It was hypothesized that the amount of self-disclosure occurring in a dyadic interaction would be a function of the level of self-concept and the sex of the subjects, with high self-concept subjects and females disclosing more than low self-concept subjects and males. Two hundred and ten subjects (105 females and 105 males) were measured for level of self-concept and then paired so that every possible combination of high, medium, and low self-concept subject paired with a partner of high, medium, or low self-concept, and a partner of the same or opposite sex, occurred. The amount of self-disclosure that occurred in the dyadic interaction was measured. It was found that self-concept was significantly related to the amount of self-disclosure. High self-concept subjects were more responsive to the level of self-concept of their partners than were other subjects. There was no relationship between the sex of the subject and the amount of self-disclosure.