ABSTRACT
T he self-disclosure transaction provides an important context in which decisions are made in beginning a relationship with a new acquaintance. People use “self-disclosure” (including what, when, and how thoughts and feelings are disclosed or not disclosed) as well as reactions by the disclosure recipient and the initial discloser to collect information about a prospective partner and to make forecasts about the possibility for a future relationship. It is also used by new acquaintances to infer how much they like and trust one another and whether they might identify themselves as friends or as an intimate couple.
