The meaning and measurement of self-disclosure

Self-disclosure is defined by Jourard as 'accurate portrayal of the self to others'. Jourard's theory states that people do not know themselves; his measure, the Jourard Self-Disclosure Questionnaire (JSDQ), assumes that they do. Self-disclosure in Jourard's theoretical sense is not satisfactorily measured by the JSDQ, nor by such behavioural measures as rating people on the length of time they speak on personal topics. More adequate measures are discussed, based mainly on the principles of expressive consistency and of focusing on the dominant process, self-disclosing or self-alienating, rather than on the content which is disclosed or concealed.