Unit(s): Interpersonal Communication
Purpose:
To offer background into self-disclosure as a way to know others and one's self
Objective:
To explore specific situations in life, disclosure opportunities and to classify according to risks and advantages.
Materials:
Self Disclosure Statement Sheets
Procedure:
- Ask students to complete the Self Disclosure Statement Sheets.
- Regroup into pairs and compare responses.
- Divide the room, by corners, into fourths.
- Isolate 4 or 5 situations from the sheets, with gradually greater potential risk, and ask students to go to the low, moderate, high or secret section.
- Warning: Consider the risk of this assignment. Control "gossipy" returns and insist on the "why" of a response rather than the specific response.
- Extension Assignment: write a one page response to this assignment. Answer the question: "What's the worst thing that could happen?"
Label each of the following on one of these scales:
L (low risk) You'd tell anyone.
M (moderate risk) You'd tell this only to good friends.
H (high risk) You'd tell this only to a best friend or a
close family member.
S (secret) You wouldn't tell this to anyone.
_____ 1. How I spend my spare time.
_____ 2. My favorite musicians and entertainers.
_____ 3. My plans and the job I want to do.
_____ 4. My political views.
_____ 5. My religious views and/or church affiliation.
_____ 6. My greatest accomplishment.
_____ 7. The most embarrassing moment of my life.
_____ 8. The thing I most regret doing.
_____ 9. My wishes and dreams for the future.
_____ 10. How much money my parents make.
_____ 11. How much I paid for my favorite outfit.
_____ 12. The lowest grade I got in high school.
_____ 13. How I feel about the way I look.
_____ 14. The thing I am most afraid of.
_____ 15. The person I dislike the most.
_____ 16. The worst act of dishonesty I have committed.