Effects of physical and phenomenological distance on self-disclosure.

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the effects of physical and phenomenological distance on self-disclosure. Two physical distances, culturally appropriate and culturally inappropriate, and three degrees of phenomenological closeness were selected. Differences in physical and phenomenological distances had significant effects upon the subjects' (n = 60) durations of self-disclosure. Subjects' feelings toward the experimenter and experiment were affected by differences in physical distance. No significant interactions between physical and phenomenological distance were evident.