How much information one discloses about one's intimate private life could be a function of race and culture.Noted evidence from a variety of counseling,therapy,and public forums that involve white couples and black couples asserts the fact that white women score very high on self-disclosure,then,the white male,after that the black woman.and the least self-disclosing is the black male. White women appear to be more open about expressing their feelings. White women will go on television and let it all hang out even to the point of admitting that they are lesbians and do other women and post photos on the internet.A black woman who do other black or white woman is not likely to go on TV and expose that fact. Since one of the goals of psychology is to explain behavior the reason for the differences would seem to be that white women have been socialized from childhood to be honest and truthful about their feelings.On the other hand black couples may come from a background where some acts are viewed as shameful and not congruent to African American life especially adherence to the bible.( God made Adam and Eve,not Adam and Steve,or Eve and Diane) Although men in general are not as open about their feelings(but this is changing),black men have been very slow to express specific feelings re health status and social comprises. Usually the black dude waits till the point of health deterioration before seeking medical attention and it could be too late.The new emerging field of African-American Psychoneuroimmunology is beginning to address this issue. Self-disclosure can also correlated with self-monitoring. Some people feel freer to express themselves whereas others may not feel as free despite the long struggle for equality.
Michael "omnicentric" Sylvester,PhD Daytona Beach,Florida Daytona Beach,Florida --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=3473 or send a blank email to leave-3473-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
