INTIMACY AS AN INTERPERSONAL PROCESS - THE IMPORTANCE OF SELF-DISCLOSURE, PARTNER DISCLOSURE, AND PERCEIVED PARTNER RESPONSIVENESS IN INTERPERSONAL EXCHANGES

H. T. Reis and P. Shaver's (1988) interpersonal pro;cess model of inti macy suggests that both self-disclosure and partner responsiveness con tribute to the experience of intimacy in interactions. Two studies tes ted this model using an event-contingent diary methodology in which pa rticipants provided information immediately after their social interac tions over I (Study 1) or 2 (Study 2) weeks. For each interaction, par ticipants reported on their self-disclosures. partner disclosures, per ceived partner responsiveness, and degree of intimacy experienced in t he interaction. Overall. the findings strongly supported the conceptua lization of intimacy as a combination of self-disclosure and partner d isclosure at the level of individual interactions with partner respons iveness as a partial mediator in this process. Additionally, in Study 2, self-disclosure of emotion emerged as a more important predictor of intimacy than did self-disclosure of facts and information.