Question
You are on a plane and the person next to you spends the two-hour flight telling you the details of their extra-marital affair. Which of the following statements are true about this encounter?Select ALL THAT APPLY. D The conversation has too much breadth for the relationship between you. D The amount and type of disclosure seems inappropriate for the setting. The conversation has too much depth for the relationship between you. Central layers of social penetration are more appropriate for more intimate relationships.
Solution
4
(226 Votes)
Kian
Professional ยท Tutor for 6 years
Answer
The following statements are true about the encounter:* **The conversation has too much depth for the relationship between you.** Sharing intimate details like an extra-marital affair implies a deep level of self-disclosure not typically seen between strangers on a plane.* **The amount and type of disclosure seems inappropriate for the setting.** A plane is a public space with limited privacy. This level of personal information is generally not shared with strangers in such a setting.* **The conversation has too much breadth for the relationship between you.** While the conversation might be *deep* due to the sensitive nature of the topic, it likely lacks *breadth*. Breadth refers to the variety of topics discussed. A two-hour conversation about a single affair, with a stranger, demonstrates significant depth but limited breadth. A broader conversation would cover multiple aspects of the person's life, not just this single sensitive topic.* **Central layers of social penetration are more appropriate for more intimate relationships.** Social penetration theory describes how relationships develop through increasing breadth and depth of self-disclosure. The central layers, representing more personal information, are reserved for closer relationships, not strangers on a plane.