The effect of the PSD teacher's gender on the self-disclosure of opposite gender students during PSD seminars

Abstract

This research attempted to discover the effect of the PSD teacher's gender on the selfdisclosure of opposite gender students' during PSD sessions. Thus, literature on PSD, on gender and on self-disclosure was reviewed. Subsequently, four observations of PSD sessions at the seminar centre were carried out. In addition, semi-structured interviews with two male and two female teachers and six male and six female students were held. The results were analysed thematically. The conclusions revealed that the teachers' gender affects opposite students' self-disclosure of personal information in sessions regarding sexuality. Thus, students self-disclosed more personal information when they were tackling sexuality issues in a same gender group facilitated by the same gender teacher.