Social Penetration Theory
Mari Lujan
Communication 1050
Fall 2014
Social Penetration Theory is based on the research of Irvin Altman and Dalmas Taylor their theory. Altmar and Taylor were both Social Psychologists that work on the Social Penetration Theory early 1960-1970, but the theory was not made public until 1973. (Gidd)
Irvin illustrates the process of bonding that moves relationship from superficial to more intimate. (West and Turner) Social Penetration Theory has different dimensions of intimacy; physical, emotional and intellectual. (West and Turner)
The theory also illustrates how humans are like onion, and how we have layers, (Onion Analogy). After reading the assumptions of the Penetration theory; I know that I wanted to work with the theory more and learn how we use the Social Penetration Theory on our every day live.
The Movie I choose to do is the Original Shrek Movie created in 2001 by DreamWorks, and Directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jensen. (Imdb.com) This film is one of my favorite ones, and after learning about the Social Penetration Theory; I can see that the film has many scenes, that deal Social Penetration Stages and the SPT. For example “When Shrek tells Donkey that ogres are like Onion, We have layers” Onion Analogy. (Imdb.com)
Another Example from the movie is when the Princess Fiona show Shrek and Donkey that she would be us tuff and protect herself against the guys that were trying to take her in the forest; because they thought she was a damsel in stress.
There was many scenes in the money that shown how this movies focus on the Social Penetration Theory, the part when Donkey and Shrek trajectory, should them a path to get closer and learn about each other and become intimate friends. As the outer layers begin to fall, and the public image of Shrek change; the way Donkey and Fiona felt about Shrek change. Fiona relationship with Shrek reciprocity and a new intimate relationship between both began.
Shrek the Movie was an excellent film, I believe it had a good hidden message, that we don’t see it as general public unless we study communication and learn about the Communication Theories. Social Penetration is everywhere and we can judge someone by their public image. We have to tear up the layers and learn more about the people.
I believe that the creator and the director Adamson and Jensen did a great good, getting the message across. Don’t judge to quick get to know the person first. Like in the film Shrek judge Donkey as an annoying donkey, everyone though Shrek was a scary ogre and Princess Fiona was a helpless princess. At the end of the movie Fiona, Shrek, and Donkey show their inner layer or their core. Donkey is a loyal friend to both Shrek and Fiona. Shrek show’s his kind and sweet personality. And Princess Fiona shows everyone her inner self by shown the public her inner image which is a strong female ogre
Overall the film delivers it purpose to make people think twice before judging the public image and maybe using the Onion Analogy more often we would be surprise to see what we find. After reviewing what the Social Penetration Theory is and how we use it in our daily lives. I have also learned not to be too quick to judge, instead I will try to be move open and think like Shrek we are like onion so we have to get to inner core to find what someone is all about.
Great Movie for a Great Theory.
Reference
Bibliography
Emergensite, The. The emergenesite. October 2014. http://www.theemergencesite.com/Therapy/LearningAsATherapy-Wk070305.htm. 05 November 2014.
Gidd. http://www.communicationstudies.com/communication-theories/social-penetration-theory. 01 2014. 08 11 2014.
Imdb.com. imbd.com . 1990-2014. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0126029/. 10 November 2014.
West, Richard and Lynn H Turner. "Introducting Communication Theory." West, Richard and Lynn H Turner. New York, NY: McGraw Hill High Education, 2000. 168.