Final answer:
In social penetration theory, the core of the self includes central attributes such as fundamental fears, values, beliefs, and self-concept.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to social penetration theory, the core of the self is comprised of central attributes that are more intimate and personal. These attributes include fundamental fears, values, self-concept, beliefs, and emotional control systems. The theory, developed by psychologists Irwin Altman and Dalmas Taylor, views personality as a multi-layered onion. At first, we might only share superficial layers in an interaction, like basic opinions and biographical information, but as intimacy grows through self-disclosure, deeper layers of one's personality such as core values and self-concepts are exposed.
These core aspects, situated at the center of this model, tend to be the most protected and disclosed gradually over time as trust builds within a relationship. This core represents the most vulnerable aspects of our personality, often including our real self and ideal self as proposed by humanistic theorist Carl Rogers. The congruence between these selves—our views on who we are versus who we want to be—forms a significant part of our central attributes. The ideal and real selves are significant because high congruence typically leads to higher self-worth and a more productive life.