Question: THE COST OF DISCLOSURE: SCENARIOS

Scenario 1:

Trey and DJ have been friends for over five years after meeting in college.  When they both found jobs in Atlanta, Georgia, they decided to move in together. DJ recently found out that his parents are getting a divorce. He isn’t sure that he will be able to talk about the situation without crying, but knows that Trey will likely notice he is acting differently as he deals with this complex family situation. What would you recommend DJ do in this situation?

Scenario 2:

Adam was recently diagnosed with a chronic illness. He is going on an all-expenses-paid cruise with his family next month. Adam is close with his parents and siblings, but isn’t sure how he feels about his aunts, uncles, and cousins finding out about his illness and how it will change his day-to-day life. What would you recommend Adam do in this situation?

Scenario 3:

Katya and Piper met on a dating application and recently went out for drinks at a local restaurant. Katya and Piper talked for a couple of hours, realized that they had some mutual friends from college, and seemed to be getting along. Piper knew going into the date that she wanted to tell Katya about her two-year old son, but wasn’t sure how to, given that it was a first date. How would you recommend Piper disclose to Katya in this situation?

Scenario 4:

Patrice joined a summer softball team in his neighborhood. At the first practice, Patrice recognized that an ex-girlfriend, Trina, was also on the team; Patrice also noted that it looked like Trina’s husband played, too. When he was introduced to other teammates after practice, Patrice noticed that Trina wasn’t making eye contact with him; Patrice wondered if Trina didn’t want her husband to know that Patrice was an ex-boyfriend. How would you recommend Trina disclose to her husband in this situation?

Scenario 5:

Shweta is the newest sociology professor at the University of Cancan. The department hosted a happy hour in her honor and her boss encouraged her to bring a significant other or a friend. However, Shweta’s husband is currently in jail. At the party, Shweta ended up telling her boss, who seemed surprised and slightly uncomfortable with this information. All weekend, Shweta was nervous about how Monday would go at work. How would you recommend Shweta manage this post-disclosure situation?

Scenario 6:

Toni and Xiaowen have been dating for a couple of years, and are debating moving in together. While attending a pool party and barbeque at a friend’s house, Toni and Xiaowen get into a conversation with the hostess of the party, Jill, about vacation plans for the following year. Jill says “Xiaowen, you have that conference in South Africa, right? Will you be going too, Toni?” This is the first that Toni has heard of the trip, and he immediately appears surprised and upset that Xiaowen hadn’t told him.  How would you recommend Xiaowen manage this post-disclosure situation?