Allocentrism

CJBS 37-3

6/20/05

9:11 AM

Page 211

Allocentrism and Friendship Satisfaction:
The Mediating Roles of Disclosure and Closeness

MARIAN M. MORRY, University of Manitoba

Abstract
Based on interdependence theory and the interpersonal
process model of intimacy, individuals’ personal attributes, perceptions, cognitions, and affect should influence
relationship expectations.Self-disclosure is one form of
behavioural interdependence and includes perceptions of
the partner’s disclosure. These behaviours (own disclosure) and perceptions (perceived partner’s disclosure)
should impact cognitions about the self and partner (cognitive closeness) and affect about the relationship (satisfaction). Personal attributes also determine how people
react. Allocentrism, one personalattribute, refers to an
individual’s orientation involving emotional ties and
dependence on others. A study involving cross-sex
friendships tested whether allocentrism predicted own
disclosure, own disclosure predicted perceived friend’s
disclosure, which predicted closeness, and finally closeness predicted satisfaction. A series of hierarchical regressions supported these relations and accountedfor 23% of
the variance in satisfaction.
Résumé
Suivant la théorie de l’interdépendance et du modèle de
processus interpersonnel d’intimité les attributs, les perceptions, les cognitions et l’affect personnels individuels
devraient avoir une incidence sur les attentes dans une
relation. La révélation de soi est une forme d’interdépendance comportementale et englobe les perceptions de larévélation du partenaire. Ces comportements (sa propre
révélation) et les perceptions (la révélation perçue du
partenaire) devraient avoir une incidence sur la connaissance de soi et du partenaire (compatibilité cognitive) et
l’affect au sujet de la relation (la satisfaction). Les attributs personnels déterminent aussi la façon de réagir des
personnes. L’allocentrisme, un attribut personnel,réfère à
l’orientation d’une personne supposant des liens et une
dépendance émotive sur les autres. Une étude faisant
appel à des amitiés entre personnes de sexe différent a
permis de tester si l’allocentrisme prédisait la révélation
de soi, la révélation de soi prédisait la révélation perçue
de l’ami, qui prédisait la compatibilité et en dernier lieu
la satisfaction prédite de compatibilité. Unesérie de

régressions hiérarchiques sont venues à l’appui de ces
relations et représentaient 23 % de l’écart de satisfaction.

Across cultures, individuals are motivated to
establish and maintain intimate attachments with
others (Baumeister & Leary, 1995). Why some attachments are more satisfying than others is an important
question, as satisfying relationships are significant
sources ofsocial support and well-being (Berscheid
& Reis, 1998) and positive predictors of health (Ryff
& Singer, 2001). One way to examine this issue is to
look at how individuals think about themselves, their
relationship partners, and the relationship, as these
cognitions can influence relationship satisfaction. In
fact, interdependence theory indicates that personal
attributes, perceptions,cognitions, and affect will
influence relationship expectations (Kelley &
Thibaut, 1978). Aron and colleagues (e.g., Aron, Aron,
& Smollan, 1992) have described one such relationship cognition: self-other merging or relationship
closeness. The more the intimate other is viewed as
part of the self, the higher the respondent’s relationship satisfaction (Aron et al., 1992; Medvene, Teal, &Slavich, 2000).
Relationship cognitions, however, should be examined in terms of the interdependence of the two individuals. One form of behavioural interdependence
important to relationship closeness and satisfaction is
disclosure. Disclosure, one’s own and the partner’s, is
positively related to satisfaction (Hendrick, 1981;
Miller & Kenny, 1986). This relation may be, at least
partly,...