ABSTRACT
Self-disclosure is one of the defining characteristics of intimate relationships (Brehm, Miller, Perlman & Campbell, 2002): ‘Two people cannot be said to be intimate with each other if they do not share some personal, relatively confidential information with one another’ (p. 138). Self-disclosure serves important functions in relationship development. We can not initiate, develop, or maintain a relationship without selfdisclosure. We terminate relationships, in part, by terminating self-disclosure. Selfdisclosure has other important relational consequences, including eliciting liking and reciprocal self-disclosure. Requests for disclosure are common when individuals want information about their partner, including details about the partner’s sexual history in order to engage in safer sex.
