Analysis of Communication Privacy Management Theory (Essay Sample)

Secret between Friends: Analysis of Communication Privacy Management Theory

Communication Privacy Management (CPM) theory explains how individuals govern private information through metaphorical boundaries that allow them to decide what information to reveal and what to conceal (Kennedy-Lightsey et al. 2012, pg. 666). Through the help of this theory, one can understand how individuals create and maintain such boundaries between each other, especially within the subject of disclosure of private information. Once the confidential information is disclosed from one person to another, both parties have co-ownership of that information. CPM theory has defined a way for individuals to manipulate or govern that information through a set of boundaries, such as boundary turbulence, which happens when "unwanted audience members gain access to private information" (Kennedy-Lightsey et al. 2012, pg. 667). Therefore, this study aims to explore and apply implementations of CPM theory in one of the scenes from the TV show Big Bang Theory. This paper will firstly summarize CPM theory and its applications. Secondly, discuss explanations of characters' behaviors through CPM concepts from a scene of Big Bang Theory, where Penny shares a secret with her friend Sheldon that involves their mutual friend. 

Literature Review

Communication Privacy Management (CPM) theory explains a rules-based system utilized to understand how individuals balance disclosure and privacy. In addition, CPM Theory consists of five suppositions: private information, private boundaries, control and ownership, rule-based management system, and dialectical (Thompson, 2013). In a study done by Kenned-Lightsey and their colleagues, they have further analyzed the coordination and ownership supposition, more specifically within disclosures between friends, and were able to understand better the dissemination of information amongst the friends (Kennedy-Lightsey, and et al., 2012). This study has revealed a correlation between riskier information and boundary coordination where upon hearing information from their friends, receivers would work to create boundaries that align with their friendship. The study results also align with the study conducted by McBride and Bergen (2008). They also found that friends would set boundaries after their conversations as much as there would be uncomfortable feelings regarding disclosed private information.

Another application of CPM is the occurrence of a privacy dilemma, which is defined as when individuals learn private information that they do not want to know in any necessity (Thompson, 2013). Once there is a privacy dilemma occurring, then there will be boundary turbulence followed by it, which is defined as the process of renegotiating or redefining the rules of the friendships (McBride, 2008). In a study done by McBride and Bergen (2008), they further analyzed the reactions of individuals upon receiving unwanted disclosure from their friends. Results indicated that individuals who experienced boundary turbulence due to a privacy dilemma have worked on later to redefine and renegotiate the rules within friendships regarding the disclosure of private information. Both McBride (2008) and Kennedy-Lightsey (2012) have defined how CPM plays a role in a set of rules amongst friends upon receiving private information. 

Theory Application

The scene from Big Bang Theory revolves around Penny asking her friend Sheldon to keep a secret and not disclose their conversation to their mutual friend, Leonard (Prady & Cendrowski, 2008). CPM theory helps to understand this exchange of disclosure between two friends and their communication regarding the sharing of secret or private information that the other person did not want to hear. When approached with a question to start the conversation, Sheldon hesitates to answer the question about his best friend, Leonard. Therefore, Penny revealed private information, which is defined as the first supposition of CPM that established information that matters deeply to the discloser (Bello, 2014). Subsequently, Sheldon and Penny shared a co-ownership of that secret. As McBride and Bergen (2008) attempted to explain, following the disclosure of any information, there was an attempt by Sheldon to create privacy boundaries, especially after Penny asked him not to tell Leonard, therefore trying to prevent boundary turbulence from happening in their friendship (Prady & Cendrowski, 2008). 

This scene from Big Bang Theory is an exceptional example of CPM theory. It shows many concepts of the theory applied in communication, but these could also be seen in the characters' body language. As a result of the privacy dilemma, whenever Sheldon heard Penny ask him to keep it a secret, his initial response was denial and renegotiation of metaphorical privacy boundaries between them, which had previously not been created. (Prady & Cendrowski, 2008) When Penny shared the private information, Sheldon did not have any initial predispositions; however, when asked to keep it a secret, he mentioned the importance of pre-negotiated boundaries amongst friends. This communication aligned with the study done by McBride and Bergen (2008) and Kennedy-Lightsey (2012), who have touched on the importance of the rule management system amongst friends regarding private information. 

Conclusion

The Communication Privacy Management theory helps us understand the ways individuals can receive, conceal, or reveal any private information they share co-ownership with and allow us to create such boundaries to maintain the relationships and integrity of friendships. CPM does not necessarily prevent individuals from sharing information; after all, especially amongst close friends, sharing information allows them to get to know each other better and connect in a deeper meaning. However, it is essential to maintain boundaries and negotiate co-ownership of private information without letting it break apart the preexisting bond of friendship.