To Disclose or Not to Disclose? Status Distance and Self-disclosure in Diverse Environments

We examine the problem that people who are demographically different from one another face a fundamental challenge in achieving interpersonal closeness in organizational settings. We contribute to the literature by incorporating a discussion of how the status differences that accompany demographic diversity can influence the disclosure of personal information and ultimately interpersonal closeness. Moreover, we highlight the difficult choice on the part of individuals to strategically conceal or reveal status-relevant personal information to others.