ABSTRACT
This chapter offers a strategic perspective on self-disclosure by highlighting the motivations and means by which people manage the disclosure of information in personal and in work relationships. It focuses on two facets of disclosure in these contexts: self-disclosure in the development of relationships and the factors affecting self-disclosure. The chapter describes the nature and function of self-disclosure in the work environment and identifies factors affecting the revelation of personal information at work. It discusses the dialectical theories and then examines self-disclosure's role in initiating, maintaining, and dissolving personal relationships. Individuals must weigh the potential rewards (personal, relational, and professional) against the potential risks in making decisions regarding self-disclosure. Self-disclosure serves important functions in relationship initiation, development, maintenance, and even dissolution. Self-disclosure plays a pivotal role in the development and maintenance of work relationships. The chapter concludes with a description of the role of disclosure in non-relational contexts.