Award Date

1-1-1999

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Communication Studies

First Committee Member

Leesa Dillman

Number of Pages

81

Abstract

"Living Expressions" are formal events where appreciative feelings are disclosed to a living recipient by friends and/or relatives. Effects of events on the self-esteem of recipients and recipient's relationships with disclosers were studied. Self-esteem and self-disclosure are components of personal and relational health. Living Expressions were expected to enhance self-esteem and personal relationships through self-disclosure. Living Expressions have semblance to ideas contained in eulogies, Gestalt and other therapies and group theories. Self-enhancement and self-consistency theory conflicts were considered. Social penetration theory and self-disclosure studies were reviewed. Eleven recipients were subjects in this multi-case, qualitative study. The combined self-enhancement/self-consistency theory and social penetration theory were supported. Positive effects on self-esteem were negligible, however, the benefits of self-disclosure were substantial and all relationships were enhanced. Limitations of measures, communication difficulties, and temporal effects, were discussed. Further research was recommended.

Keywords

Effects; Expressions; Living; Primary; Recipients

Controlled Subject

Communication; Ethnology; Social psychology

File Format

pdf

File Size

3000.32 KB

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

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