Stigmatized Disclosure in Close Relationships

Abstract

Stigmatized disclosures—things we elect not to share when we are worried about disapproval, stereotyping, or judgment—were examined in the context of close relationships. Participants (N = 141) shared examples of stigmatized disclosures they were currently withholding from a close other via an anonymous online survey. Responses were coded to determine topics of stigmatized disclosures as well as reasons for withholding. Four overarching categories of topics were uncovered (societal taboos, personal business, identity, and abuse/trauma), as well as four categories of reasons (self-focused, other-focused, relationship-focused, and information-focused). This data-driven chapter reviews extant literature on disclosure and avoidance, includes an investigation of a wide variety of stigmatized disclosure topics (N = 186) and reasons for withholding them (N = 564), and examines the implications of these findings.