Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Identity Implications Of Relationship (Re)Definition Goals: An Analysis Of Face Threats And Facework As Young Adults Initiate, Intensify, And Disengage From Romantic Relationships, Steven R. Wilson, Adrianne D. Kunkel, Scott J. Robson, James O. Olufowote, Jordan Soliz

Department of Communication Studies: Faculty Publications

Identity implications theory (IIT) is applied to analyze how young adults manage identity concerns associated with the goals of initiating, intensifying, and disengaging from romantic relationships. Participants wrote their responses to one of six hypothetical romantic (re)definition scenarios, indicated whether they actually would pursue the relational goal if their scenario were real, and rated degree of threat to both parties’ face. Responses were coded for positive and negative politeness strategies. Participants in different relational goal conditions perceived different face threats, varied in their likelihood of pursuing the relational goal, and employed different politeness strategies. Relationship (re)definition goal also moderated associations …