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11th Edition

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Chapter  8Social Penetration Theory


Title:
Step Brothers
Claim:
Law of reciprocity; costs and rewards
Application:
When new stepbrothers Brennan and Dale first meet, they exchange social information, but it is clear they are uninterested in forming a close relationship. Later, when they discover mutual similarities, their evaluation of the costs and benefits of forming a close tie change. The law of reciprocity kicks in further as they self-disclose to each other.
Cue Point:
8:00 & 12:01; 33:15-36:50
Discovered  By:
Ayesha and Phillip (Andrew's students, Spring 2022)

Title:
"I Don't Know About You," Chris Lane, Laps Around the Sun
Claim:
Onion model
Application:
This country song describes a man who meets a woman at the bar. He asks her questions and indicates that he sees self-disclosure as a key way to growing a close relationship with her.
Discovered  By:
Anna (Andrew's student, Spring 2022)

Title:
"Delicate," Taylor Swift, Reputation
Claim:
In the onion model of personality, information is layered and disclosed from most to least sensitive
Application:
In the chorus of this song, Taylor wonders aloud if she has shared too much, too soon. Social penetration theory would suggest that she's wondering whether the knife has cut too deeply into the onion.
Discovered  By:
Andrew

Title:
Shrek
Claim:
Personality structure is like an onion. Peal off the outer layer and there’s another layer deeper inside.
Application:
On their quest, Shrek tells his donkey sidekick. “For your information, here’s a lot more to ogres than people think." He then uses the onion metaphor.
Cue Point:
26:15-29:45
Discovered  By:
Em

Title:
Gilmore Girls, S2, E11, "Secrets and Loans"
Claim:
Self-disclosure proceeds according to a law (or norm) of reciprocity, and we may feel uncomfortable if someone violates that norm.
Application:
Rory's rival Paris is desperate to know Rory's PSAT scores. Watch as she first asks fellow classmates to reveal their scores, and then is frustrated when they don't ask about hers; then, feel the discomfort when, despite revealing her scores, Rory refuses to share hers.
Discovered  By:
Andrew

Title:
Big Bang Theory, S2, E11, "The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis"
Claim:
Social exchange involves the evaluation of relational costs and rewards, and the value of costs and rewards often differs from person to person.
Application:
Earlier in this episode, Sheldon learned that Penny will bring him a Christmas gift. This stresses Sheldon out, because he isn't sure how to get Penny a gift that is equal in value (clearly, Sheldon belives in a norm of reciprocity regarding gifts--does that sound familiar after reading about social penetration theory?). So to be prepared for all situations, he buys several gifts of varying amounts of value. What he didn't expect is that Penny's gift would be so rewarding to him--would it be rewarding to you? How does Sheldon respond? And how would you evaluate his final gift to Penny in terms of costs and rewards?
Discovered  By:
Andrew

Title:
21 Jump Street
Claim:
Self-disclosure proceeds from surface to intimate information.
Application:
During this phone call, the characters share several layers of information. Why do you think that the process of social penetration seems to happen relatively quickly?
Discovered  By:
James Briscoe, University of Pikeville


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