Self-disclosure patterns among well-acquainted individuals: Disclosers, confidants and unique relationships

Round-robin self-reports regarding self-disclosure were obtained from groups of well-acquainted individuals and examined using the Social Relations Model. Degree of self-disclosure was strongly influenced by individual differences between disclosers (actor effects) and by relationship effects; that is, there was evidence for cross-partner consistency in disclosure and for differences between relationships. Individuals showed a limited shared preference for disclosing to particular individuals (partner effects). Extroversion was related to differences in general disclosure tendencies. At the relational level, disclosure was strongly associated with perceived intimacy and was strongly reciprocal; however, degree of acquaintance was not strongly related to disclosure. Results are discussed in terms of a methodology for the study of disclosure patterns among friends.