RUcore Resource Object
RUcore Resource Object
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TitleWord choice during a cooperative task and
romantic partners’ relationship quality
NameWood, Emily Victoria (author), Markey, Charlotte (chair), Epstein, Richard (internal member), Garcia, Luis (internal member), Rutgers University, Camden Graduate School,
Degree Date2012-05
Date Created2012
SubjectPsychology,
English language--Pronoun,
Relationship quality,
English language--Usage,
English language--Social aspects,
Interpersonal communication
DescriptionFunctional word choice in conversation may reveal a speaker’s implicit feelings towards his or her interaction partner. In the present study, 89 emerging adult couples (n=178) representing various relationship statuses (dating, cohabitating, and married) were videotaped while completing a cooperative task. The couples were ethnically diverse and in relatively new relationships (mean length of relationship= 3.7 years). Pronoun use during the conversation was analyzed using Linguistic Inventory Word Count (Pennebaker et al, 2001) and correlated with relationship quality at the time of the interview, and correlated with a one year follow-up of relationship success and relationship quality. Findings reveal a few important correlations between pronouns used and relationship quality and success. Additionally, this research successfully extends past research by examining young couples in a cooperative task, rather than conflict, and by examining the predictive power of separateness versus togetherness pronoun use in attempts to understand relationship quality.
NoteM.A.
NoteIncludes bibliographical references
NoteIncludes vita
Noteby Emily Victoria Wood
Genretheses
Persistent URLhttp://hdl.rutgers.edu/1782.1/rucore10005600001.ETD.000064991
Languageeng
CollectionCamden Graduate School Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Organization NameRutgers, The State University of New Jersey
RightsThe author owns the copyright to this work.
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