Choosing to be open: An empirical investigation of subjective reasons for self‐disclosing

This investigation examined self‐disclosure as a consequence of subjective choices. Results of several analyses demonstrated the importance of the target‐discloser relationship (and the minor influence of setting composition, situational intimacy and discloser sex) for determining a person's subjective reasons for self‐disclosing. Reciprocity and Impression Formation were found to be important reasons for disclosing to strangers, and Relationship Maintenance/Enhancement, Self‐Clarification, and Reciprocity were found to be important reasons for disclosing to friends. Regression analyses indicated that Catharsis best predicted amount of disclosure to strangers, whereas both Relationship Maintenance/Enhancement and Catharsis predicted amount of disclosure to friends.