Self-Disclosure Responses to Stigmatizing Disclosures

Abstract

Knowledge gained through symbolic and instrumental interpretations of attitudes toward persons with AIDS suggests that positive attitudes toward gays or persons with AIDS (symbolic factors) and less knowledge and greater fear ofAIDS contraction (instrumental factors) will lead to more convergence of self-disclosure outcomes in interactions with gays or persons withAIDS. The initial prediction, and the findings of the current investigation, are consistent with a communication accommodation theory prediction of greater convergence being related to greater liking or tolerance of an interaction partner's group membership. Finally, whereas the extant literature regarding whether more convergence should be evidenced in nonstigmatized, gay, or potentially HIV+ interactions was inconsistent, the current investigation found selfdisclosure convergence on privateness, emotional intensity, and social desirability across all interactions regardless of stigmatization condition. Convergence on uniqueness and vulnerability was most evidenced in the nonstigmatized condition.