Social Penetration Critique (First Draft)

Anong karapatan kong mag- kritik ng isang teorya?

Sa totoo lang, pakiramdam ko wala akong karapatan dahil unang- una wala akong interes sa kahit anong teorya, pangalawa hindi ko pa lubusang naiintindihan ang teoryang aking iki-kritik  at sa aking pananaw hindi ko kailangang pakialamanan ang paniniwala ng ibang tao dahil panigurado maguguluhan lamang ako. Ngunit ako ay interesado na matuto kung paano magsulat ng maayos at matuto kung paano mag kritik ng tama kaya dapat lang na gawin ko ito. 

Social Penetration TheoryWhat is Social Penetration Theory? Social Penetration Theory asserts that as relationships develop person’s communication from superficial to deeply personal topics, slowing penetrating the communicators' public persona to reach their core personality or sense of self.(Source: Altman, I., & Taylor, D. (1973). Social penetration: The development of interpersonal relationships)
In simpler explanation: The more time we spend with others, the more likely we are to self-disclose, more intimate thought and details of our life.

Penetration goes trough a number of stages.

1. Orientation stage. Here, we play safe with small talk and simple, harmless clichés like ‘Life’s like that’, following standards of social desirability and norms of appropriateness.

-Absolutely true! Fake friends? Maybe others? For sure, everyone or if not most of us (especially Filipinos) does this first stage a lot. We all want to have a good impression to everybody from the very beginning, so we’re interacting with them safely.

2. Exploratory affective stage. We now start to reveal ourselves, expressing personal attitudes about moderate topics such as government and education. This may not be the whole truth as we are not yet comfortable to lay ourselves bare. We are still feeling our way forward. This is the stage of casual friendship, and many relationships do not go past this stage.

- I agree! Of course, we can never hide who we really are. Whether we like it or not, our real attitude (positive or negative) will be revealed sooner or later. In this stage we’re “sort of ” comfortable with each other and we have a little “guts” to express ourself.

3. Affective stage. Now we start to talk about private and personal matters. We may use personal idioms. Criticism and arguments may arise. There may be intimate touching and kissing at this stage.

-As the time goes by we’re already comfortable enough with each other. In this stage we already have the courage to share our private life with him/her even though sometimes they really don’t care. “There may be intimate touching and kissing at this stage.”- I can’t relate!!! I’ve no experience yet.”

4. Stable stage. The relationship now reaches a plateau in which personal things are shared and each can predict the emotional reactions of the other person.

-Yes! Finally! All of us or if not most of us for sure will have a “friend” that would have a steady and strong relationship with us. Sadly, not all will come up to this stage because there are a lot of fake friends!

5. Depenetration. When the relationship starts to break down and costs exceed benefits, then there is a withdrawal of disclosure which leads to termination of the relationship.

- Not all will come up to this stage. Why? There’s a LIFETIME relationship! It’s hard to have one, but it exists! But wait, depenetration exists! There’s a lot of time that you can experience this stage. People change! Feelings change!

References: Anderson, R., & Ross, V. (1998). Questions of communication: A practical introduction to theory (2nd ed.). New York: St. Martin's Press. 

(I really need your help!!! I need food! I need your critiques! I want to be a healthy writer! Don't be afraid na i- correct ako. Sorry kung inechos ko lang to.)