| dc.description.abstract | Research supports the conclusion that adults show a
pattern of restrictive disclosure in which they choose to
disclose intimate information to friends rather than
nonfriends. From a developmental perspective, however, only
limited evidence exists for this restrictive disclosure to
friends process in children. The present study was designed
to investigate whether, and if so at what age, children show
the restrictive disclosure to friends in their actual
communication with peers. Sixteen subjects (8 boys and 8
girls) selected from each of kindergarten, second and fourth
grades were asked to "send a message" on a tape recorder to
both a peer friend and peer nonfriend and talk about five
categories which varied in personal content. The results
indicated that the restrictive disclosure to friends pattern
was evident in all three grades examined. Subjects disclosed
overall, more high intimate but not more low intimate
information to friends than to nonfriends. Age differences
were also found in which there was an increase with age in the
restriction of positive personal information to friends.
These findings were discussed in terms of the development of
social modesty. | |
