The Communication Privacy Management Theory is a systemic research theory designed to develop evidence-based understanding of the way people make decisions about revealing or concealing their private information (Petronio, 2015). Privacy boundaries are created based on the advantages or expenses that come with information disclosure that draw divisions between private and public information (Petronio, 2015). We create these privacy boundaries ourselves, due to our comfort level and the importance of the information at risk. The Rules Based Management System controls the availability of this information using three factors: privacy rule characteristics (rules that depend on culture, race, gender, motivation behind disclosure, social environment, and the risks), boundary coordination (relating to disclosers’ (co) construction and regulation of rules surrounding information shared with receivers), and boundary turbulence (Petronio, 2015).
Boundary turbulence may occur when both people involved lack the same ideas about the rules (or intensity) of the information disclosure (Petronio, 2013).
There are a few reasons as to why boundary turbulence may occur. Often, it is caused by mistake. Overhearing information or being under the influence of drugs and alcohol may taint one’s perception of boundary rules. Because of this, information may be released. Additionally, boundary turbulence may be caused intentionally or by lack of knowledge on how to go about a situation. For example, a teacher may attempt to follow a student on Instagram, not aware that it is a private social media account that the student does not want them accessing.
Five core principles of this theory are: (1) People believe they own and have a right to control their private information. (2) People control their information by using privacy rules (3) when others are told or given access to a persons’ private information, they become co-owners of it. (4) Co-owners of private information need to mutually agree on privacy rules (5)-boundary turbulence will occur if privacy rules are broken (Petronio, 2013).
This theory is most present in family life. At her speech at Loyola Marymount in 2017, Dr. Petronio asked the audience if their families have any secrets. She was curious as to what items of information families instructed each other to not disclose to just anyone. For example, some families are not comfortable sharing information about money with “just anyone”. Reasons may be that they are worried they will be scammed, robbed, thought differently of, or are thought of as “boasters”. Other family secrets such as a family member’s history with addiction may be kept secret to keep a family’s name reputable.
Likewise, this theory has a major presence while examining the social media world. Two women in the same demographic may release totally different types of information to the public, comfortably. A famous model may release her bust and waist size along with images from her photo shoots, while an average Starbucks employee may be totally comfortable sharing her location and whereabouts, but hides her last name for privacy. These different ideas of privacy stem from each individual’s privacy rule characteristics.
The meta-theoretical orientation of the Communication Privacy Management theory is interpretive. There is no black-and-white answer to what we wish to disclose versus what we wish to stay private. There is also no explanation to why we tell certain people the things we do. Some may say that trust plays a huge role in the information that we disclose to others, but that then leaves us wondering, “, what explains our urge to tell strangers secrets about us?” Similarly, some may seek different levels of privacy from different groups (the government, parents, friends, co-workers, etc.) (Petronio, 2013).
Lynsey K. Romo conducted a study examining the information disclosure of formerly overweight and obese individuals, which led to interesting findings. The purpose of the article was to analyze the impact of stigma on those who lost weight to end that very shame (Romo, 2016). Bullying overweight people is an epidemic in our society that starts in young children, and should be stopped due to the life-long effects that others’ words can have on people. Because of this, overweight individuals undergo rough trials to make their bodies “socially acceptable”. Some of these include starvation, anorexia, bulimia, risky surgeries, or intense diet and exercise transitions. Being overweight in America is looked down upon, so it had Romo curious as to how formerly overweight individuals feel disclosing their past self. (Romo, 2016).
The study conducted was based on a random sample of formerly overweight individuals who answered questions regarding the stigmas placed on them while they were overweight (Romo, 2016). The second part of the interview was about their lives now, and how comfortable they are with sharing about their past selves, considering the negative connotation that obesity has. Surprisingly, results showed that nearly all participants in the study agreed that there is more benefit than cost in disclosing who they were. The reasons to disclose, stated by participants in the study, were to inspire others, build relationships, and to hold themselves accountable. One reason some chose to not disclose their information had to do with the struggle of not being “boastful” or to “shove” their hard work and progress in other’s faces (Romo, 2016).
This study is important to the Communication Privacy Management theory because it is a perfect example of analyzing the costs and benefits of disclosing personal information. Those involved revealed that they did think about the ‘pros’ and ‘cons’ in releasing the information, and that most went through with it because the costs did not outweigh the benefits. Most found comfort in their progress and seemed to make friends along their journey.
This article is meaningful because of how much our society covers up the hope in change. We are raised in a place that holds a poor stigma against overweight individuals that perceives them as unsuccessful, poor, uneducated, unhealthy, and lazy. Those may be words to describe an obese person, but they can also describe anyone of any other size. The immensity that this stigma has on some people’s lives is obviously apparent following major weight loss. It has me wondering if people are still shameful of who they used to be, or if they use that person as a tool for the better. The study was a perfectly positive representation of the fact that obese people aren’t ashamed of who they are because they want to be, it’s because society has made them feel bad for who they are. The fact that most who partook in the study look back on who they used to be in a positive light was refreshing to read.
While reflecting on the application of the Communication Privacy Management Theory in relation to my own life, I consider my social media presence. I am a huge Instagram fan and enjoy posting moments from my life for my friends to see, comment, and like. Some may say I “over share”; snapping pictures of every dish I eat and outfit I wear. Through the study of this theory, I realized I actually don’t share everything. I have never posted a picture crying, looking upset, or ranting about all of the terrible things going on in my life. I choose to keep these parts of myself private for two reasons: I do not want to seem like I am seeking attention, and I want to keep up a “perfect image”. I also realized I choose not to share images that are unflattering representation of myself. If I look too fat or too pale, perhaps too tired in an image I won’t post it- even though that’s the real me. In the future, this may make me self-conscious about the “real me” versus the “me” that I supply to the world via my social media. I should start to be more transparent with my true self and not sugar coat my life. In the end, nobody is perfect.
The study of this theory has helped me realize I need to be more me. I feel like I often put up a front, and do not expose the reality behind my life. It begins to exhaust me, always trying to be perfect. Though privacy has an important role in concealing parts of us that we want to keep to ourselves, the access of privacy may be a dangerous hindrance on who we really are.