Two studies examined whether individuals vary the level of abstraction of messages composed to achieve the relational goals of initiating, maintaining, and ending a romantic relationships when the goal of communication was self-disclosure or persuading one’s partner. Study 1 showed that abstract language was preferred to disclose thoughts and feelings about initiating a romantic relationship or to persuade the partner to consolidate a long-term one. Study 2 revealed that participants used abstract terms to persuade the partner to continue a problematic relationship and to disclose their thoughts on ending it. These results show that language abstraction is a flexible means to handle individuals’ goals and influence the course of romantic relationships.
Michela Menegatti, Monica Rubini (2014). Initiating, maintaining, or breaking up?: The motivated use of language abstraction in romantic relationships. SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, 45(5), 408-420 [10.1027/1864-9335/a000200].
Initiating, maintaining, or breaking up?: The motivated use of language abstraction in romantic relationships
MENEGATTI, MICHELA;RUBINI, MONICA
2014
Abstract
Two studies examined whether individuals vary the level of abstraction of messages composed to achieve the relational goals of initiating, maintaining, and ending a romantic relationships when the goal of communication was self-disclosure or persuading one’s partner. Study 1 showed that abstract language was preferred to disclose thoughts and feelings about initiating a romantic relationship or to persuade the partner to consolidate a long-term one. Study 2 revealed that participants used abstract terms to persuade the partner to continue a problematic relationship and to disclose their thoughts on ending it. These results show that language abstraction is a flexible means to handle individuals’ goals and influence the course of romantic relationships.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.