selfrevelation

Self-revelation refers to the act of making one's inner life—feelings, beliefs, experiences—known to others or oneself. It often takes the form of self-disclosure, and can be deliberate or spontaneous. It may involve revealing vulnerabilities, motivations, or past events.

In psychology and interpersonal communication, self-revelation is a key mechanism for building intimacy and trust. The depth and rate of disclosure depend on context, culture, personality, and perceived safety. Excessive or poorly timed disclosure can threaten privacy or provoke rejection. The concept is central to theories of self-disclosure, such as Jourard's model.

In therapy and counseling, self-revelation plays a strategic role for clients and therapists. Therapists may reveal limited information to facilitate rapport, while maintaining professional boundaries. For clients, sharing personal material can promote insight and change, but may also trigger vulnerability.

In theology, self-revelation describes how a deity makes itself known to humanity or how religious experiences disclose inner truths. In many faith traditions, scriptures, prophets, dream-visions, or events are counted as revelations of the divine.

In literature and philosophy, self-revelation is a device for exploring identity and authenticity. Philosophers and writers discuss the ethics and limits of revealing the self, the social risks and benefits of being seen.