Professor Cyborg posed an interesting question while commenting on another blog in regards to Social Penetration Theory - "Could you come up with an alternative metaphor for the theory?"
Her own view point was that of a maze. I liked where she was going, because there are indeed a series of channels, turns, dead ends, etc. that we all go through to become more intimate with anyone we come in contact with.
So, without any further ado, here's my attempt at a metaphor. The first thing that came to my mind was a high-tech, ultra high-security skyscraper with many levels and hallways and many office suites within each level, each with a different level of security.
In this building, everyone has access to the lobby but they have to get past the security desk to get to the elevator. If they do something stupid or alarming (like waving a gun around or hassling other people in the lobby) the security throws them out, and they are on the "blacklist" - meaning anytime they come around again the alarm sounds and they are watched like a hawk. In real life this would equate the initial interaction and weather or not you decide to continue the interaction. Those that do not resonate well with you or do something to immediately break your trust, you will be more wary of.
If you get past security in this building, that means you have been cleared and everyone that has been cleared gets a card-key to swipe upon entering the elevators. When you swipe your card, the security system knows which floors you are allowed to enter and which ones you are not. The higher the security clearance level equates to the higher the intimacy level. Likewise, on each floor, the different offices have different security levels.
This office-building metaphor works because we all have many, many people coming in and out of our lives all the time. Each person has a different role (office) and different level of intimacy (security clearance). We are always evaluating and re-evaluating our intimacy level with people based on our interactions and it is ever changing. The office building metaphor is similar to the onion in that there are levels, but takes it a step further because there is a constant flow of many, many people in and out of our life and we are monitoring each one's level of security clearance constantly.
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1 comment:
Wow! I really like your alternate metaphor. When I read the book, the onion was a great example of the theory since it had different levels and could be drawn easily as a picture. But yours is great
I completely understood and really liked the ideas of the building with the levels of intimacy. It was very creative and in good detail in which a lot of people could comprehend.
I probably would not have thought of something as keen as yours. The most creative I could have gotten was a tree (with its rings, pretty much the same concept as the onion). Nice job!
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