Reference no: EM132231724

Disclosing deepens relationships. It is the act of making information known. Disclosing includes our feelings, goals, successes, thoughts, and any other information we choose to share. Information may vary across contexts. For instance, our friends may know things our family does not, while our family may know things our friends do not. Pennebaker, Zech, and Rimé (2001) discovered in their studies that when individuals were given the opportunity to disclose on a topic such as bereavement, they would. In their research, they asked participants to “explore your very deepest emotions and thoughts” through writing over a three-day period (p. 18). Though many of the participants reported being upset, they said through this act of disclosure, value was added and the act was meaningful. When we disclose, we also take risk; we determine what information we share. By taking risk and choosing what information to share, we deepen and strengthen each of our relationships.