Group Influence on Self-Disclosure 1

Abstract

A considerable amount of research on the value-of-risk hypothesis for the risky-shift effect has suggested that Ss may see themselves as being more risky than the average person, but when they find out in a group discussion that others take equal or greater risks, then Ss move toward greater risk taking. Two studies were conducted to determine if a similar effect may be found with a kind of interpersonal risk-self-disclosure. In Study I, female Ss perceived themselves as being slightly more disclosing than their peers. In Study II, females completed a disclosure questionnaire, then participated in small-group discussions in which they did not actually disclose personal information about themselves, but only indicated to one another the extent to which they would be willing to disclose such information. The group discussion increased Ss’ willingness to disclose. In both studies the effects interacted with intimacy of disclosure and target person of disclosure. The results suggest a possible reason for the frequent finding that people will disclose more to a high discloser than to a low discloser.