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This study attempted to clarify to what degree assurances of confidentiality and interviewer behavior protective of confidentiality impacted an interviewee’s trust of an interviewer and subsequent willingness to self-disclose. Ninety-six undergraduates were asked interview questions. Male and female subjects were divided into four conditions: confidentiality statement/protective behavior, confidentiality statement/nonprotective behavior, neutral statement/protective behavior, and neutral statement/nonprotective behavior. The Intended Self-Disclosure Questionnaire and Counselor Rating Form were used to measure self-disclosure and trustworthiness levels. Results did not support the main hypothesis that protective behavior would have a more significant impact on self-disclosure and trustworthiness than verbal assurances of confidentiality. However, assurances of confidentiality did lead to significantly higher trust levels. Responses to a post-questionnaire revealed over reporting of confidentiality instructions. Implications for therapy and future research are discussed.

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Effects of attitudinal similarity and permissiveness on patterns of self-disclosure willingness were evaluated within the framework of a 2 x 3 x 3 factorial design with two levels of similarity and three levels of permissiveness as. between-subjects variables and three topics as a within-subjects variable. Subjects were administered a sexual attitude questionnaire and classified as to permissiveness level. In the second session subjects received bogus partner sexual attitude profiles constructed to be either similar or dissimilar to attitudes they had expressed. On the basis of these profiles, subjects rated their attraction toward bogus partners and indicated topic-items they would be willing to discuss with their partners. Topic-items comprised separate Sex, Family, and Feeling disclosure scales. It was hypothesized that similarity would be positively related to attraction and disclosure willingness. It was specifically hypothesized that attraction would be more highly correlated with disclosure willingness in the face of disagreement than agreement and at high intimacy levels than at low levels. Attraction was found to be positively related to attitudinal similarity but not to disclosure willingness. There was no significant similarity effect on disclosure willingness. In the overall analysis of variance for disclosure willingness there were no main effects or interactions involving similarity, permissiveness or topic. A review of the literature relating attitudinal similarity and attraction to disclosure is included as is a discussion of the mixed evidence for topical reciprocity of disclosure. Variables to include in further research concerning patterns of self-disclosure are suggested. / M.S.

Experiences of sexual assault remain prevalent worldwide, with one in five women in the United States experiencing attempted or completed rape in their lifetime. Open and supportive communication can facilitate the reconstruction of shame narratives and subsequent identity formation that may protect victims from the detrimental effects of sexual assault victimization. However, self-disclosure involves the risk of receiving negative or unsupportive reactions, leading to clinically significant symptoms of trauma. The risks of and vulnerability to such interpersonal communication warrant investigation and understanding of psychological and physiological processes that lead to emerging behaviors of resilience communication in response to another’s self-disclosure. Utilizing Communication Theory of Resilience and the Theory of Resilience and Relational Load as theoretical frameworks, this study examines relational proximity, communal orientation, emotional reserve, and empathy as predictors of intentions to engage in resilience communication. A posttest-only control group experimental design tested the effects of relational identity salience on participants’ physiological response as well as intentions to engage in communicative acts that nurture resilience upon listening to a self-disclosure of sexual assault. Survey responses (N = 39) indicated that individuals with high levels of empathy and emotional reserve were more likely to reciprocate the self-disclosure and share their own experiences. Analysis of psychophysiological measures of skin conductance (N = 39) and heart rate (N = 37) demonstrated that individuals displayed more emotional arousal and cognitive resource allocation when the relational identity as a friend is made salient. Implications and directions for future research are discussed in relation to a growing line of communication research that studies the dynamic co-construction of resilience through storytelling and everyday conversations among individuals within families, communities, and organizations. / Media & Communication