ABSTRACT
A central theoretical strand recurrent in many chapters in this volume is a concern with the “dialectic of expressiveness and protectiveness” (Rawlins, 1983b), the “express/repress dilemma” (Duck, 1982), or communication boundary management (CBM) theory (Petronio, 1993). Although dialectical tensions between competing desires to express and repress occur at an individual level, decisions about how these tensions are negotiated are culturally informed. Successful balancing of self-disclosure hinges on creating harmony between the performance of the individual and the beliefs, values, rules, and expectations associated with the cultural context of the performance. This chapter explores how one form of disclosure avoidance, egocasting, can be a cultural form of communication which enables individuals to display an “appropriate” cultural identity and to produce competent performance within a cultural context.
