ABSTRACT
Self-disclosure is one o f the m ost researched topics o f the past three decades in the fields o f interpersonal com m unication, social psychology, and social and personal relationships. However, as the chapters in this volume dem on strate, im portant and interesting research questions continue to emerge. Ex isting research traditions have been moved forw ard in interesting directions, and new lines o f inquiry have been advanced. Using these chapters as a springboard, our goal in this concluding chapter is to identify some possible directions for future research on balancing disclosure, privacy, and secrecy. O ur com m ents are grouped into five m ajor points: taking the concept o f balance seriously, decentering the sovereign self, moving beyond target in tim ates, developing theory, and enlarging the methodological tool kit.
