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

74

Abstract

Living Expressions is a term that was created to describe a unique, formalized process of interpersonal communication, in which individuals share often unexpressed feelings of appreciation with one another. This qualitative study explored a single case, single process event, based on interviews with the participants. A constructivist paradigm guides the research with intentional avoidance of a priori theory, and institutes an emergent design with the human as instrument. The purpose of the study was to foster a greater understanding of a new and unusual formal process that holds numerous potentially positive implications in its widespread application. The review of the literature offered an overview of the most closely related, primary communication process of positive self-disclosure, operationalized the focus of the study, and identified similar processes. The discussion of the data took the narrative form of an impressionistic ethnography describing the meaning the event held for its participants, through their eyes.

Keywords

Expressions; Initial; Living

Controlled Subject

Communication; Ethnology; Social psychology

File Format

pdf

File Size

2826.24 KB

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

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Rights

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