The role of self‐disclosure and self‐awareness in affinity‐seeking competence

In this study we examined (a) the relationship between affinity‐seeking competence and self‐disclosure and (b) the role of self‐awareness in mediating this relationship. According to Social Penetration Theory, people who are able to develop affinity in relationships tend to self‐disclose to increase the intimacy of a relationship; a person who self‐discloses should have higher affinity‐seeking competence. Four hundred respondents completed measures of affinity‐seeking ability, self‐disclosure, and self‐awareness. The results support a linear relationship between self‐disclosure and affinity‐seeking competence, but self‐awareness did not mediate this relationship to any significant degree.