Courtney N. Wright

The Dark Side of Self-Monitoring: How High Self-Monitors View Their Romantic Relationships

Individuals differ with regard to self-monitoring. Although self-monitoring is positively related to social skills, little research informs how it influences relational processes. Because self-monitoring gives rise to impression management, it may promote less intimate communication and lower relational quality. A survey of 97 (N = 97) undergraduate daters was conducted. Results revealed that self-monitoring was negatively related to intimate communication and relational quality. Intimate communication mediated the relationships between self-monitoring and relational quality. Thus, self-monitoring tendencies that enhance the quality of the communication skills of high self-monitors attenuate relational quality.

Relational commitment and the silent treatment

When upset with a relational partner, intimates often enact the silent treatment, although it can harm their relationships. This study investigates the degree to which relational commitment predicts a persons self-reported use of the silent treatment. Undergraduate daters indicated their relational commitment, their use of the silent treatment when upset with their partner, and what they do if the partner asks if they are upset. Relational commitment was negatively related to using the silent treatment and stonewalling when the partner asked if there was a problem. Relational commitment was only positively related to admitting being upset when the partner asked if there was a problem. Study limitations and future research implications are discussed.

You Should Just Know Why I'm Upset: Expectancy Violation Theory and the Influence of Mind Reading Expectations (MRE) on Responses to Relational Problems

Some people believe that intimate partners should be able to understand each others needs and feelings without their having to express them. Those holding mind reading expectations (MRE) often have less-satisfying relationships. Because much of the research on MRE is variable analytic without strong ties to theory, research does not inform as to how MRE create relational problems. We use Expectancy Violation Theory as a frame for understanding the relationship between MRE and problematic interactions. Among a sample of individuals in dating relationships, we discovered that MRE are positively associated with individuals reporting that they became combative toward their partners or engaged in the silent treatment when their partners had failed to recognize that they had upset them. These relationships were mediated by the respondents becoming more upset as a result of their partners’ lack of awareness. Future research directions are discussed.

The Use of Imagined Interactions to Manage Relational Uncertainty

The specific processes through which people manage relational uncertainty are not fully understood. Imagined interactions were hypothesized as a cognitive process associated with experiencing relational uncertainty following a conversation with the partner. An online survey of 177 undergraduates examined the association between three types of relational uncertainty (self, partner, and relationship) and the attributes and functions of imagined interactions. Results revealed negative associations between relationship uncertainty and the valence attribute and the catharsis function, as well as a positive association between self-uncertainty and the conflict management function. Canonical correlation analyses revealed relational uncertainty was associated with the functions of conflict management, catharsis, relational maintenance, and compensation. Implications, limitations, and directions for future research are discussed.

Predicting affectionate and aggressive teasing motivation on the basis of self-esteem and imagined interactions with the teasing victim

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was an examination of the association between self-esteem, imagined interactions, and teasing motivation. Teasing motivation serves functions of being playful and aggressive. Self-esteem is associated with teasing outcomes. Research is needed to examine the strategic planning of teasing. A mechanism for doing this is the examination of imagined interactions (IIs) in which people think about conversations. We wanted to see if IIs accounted for additional variance beyond self-esteem in predicting teasing motivation. Two hierarchical regression models were used to test hypotheses and research questions. Aggressive teasing was predicted by using IIs to ruminate about conflict, catharsis, and rehearsal. The implications of the findings for teasing and II theory as well as future research are discussed.

The Relationship Between Family Communication Patterns and the Self-Efficacy of Student-Athletes

The coach–athlete relationship and coach communication have received significant attention, as they relate to athlete performance variables; however, the coach alone does not shape an athlete’s experiences. Research has indicated the importance of the parent/guardian’s role in athlete development and suggests parent/guardian communication may also have implications for athlete performance outcomes. Of such performance variables, self-efficacy has been demonstrated to have a consistent positive and moderate relationship with sport performance. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of parent/guardian communication on student-athlete self-efficacy. Student-athlete participants (n = 290) provided self-reports of self-efficacy, family communication patterns, and the frequency-of-use and effectiveness of the efficacy-enhancing techniques employed by parent(s)/guardian(s). Results revealed a significant negative relationship between conformity-oriented communication and student-athlete self-efficacy. Regarding efficacy-enhancing techniques, the most frequently used and effective were reported as encouraging positive talk, parent/guardian acting confident themselves, and helping the student-athlete imagine optimal sport performance. Practical implications for parent(s)/guardian(s) are provided that can help inform parenting education efforts to better clarify the role of the parent/guardian in optimal student-athlete development and performance. The study’s limitation and directions for future research are discussed.

Bridging campus and community: religion and violence as expansive and socially relevant communication research

ABSTRACT Given that instructional communication happens beyond college classrooms, a small group of voices have called for expansive explorations of instructional communication. This essay continues this conversation by calling for research to explore instructional communications role in religious settings as well as in mitigating violence. Researchers are encouraged to apply instructional communication research to these areas, and enhance the social impact of their research by working in translational formats (e.g., workshops, community partnerships, and popular press writing).

“I Had One Job and That Was To Make Milk”: Mothers’ Experiences Expressing Milk for Their Very-Low-Birth-Weight Infants

Background: For very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants, breastfeeding may no longer be an immediate option. Mothers often turn to mechanically expressing their milk with a breast pump to provide their infants human milk. Research aim: This study aimed to describe mothers’ experiences expressing milk for their VLBW infants in a level 3 neonatal intensive care unit. Methods: Qualitative, phenomenological methods were used to better understand the milk expression experiences of 17 mothers of VLBW infants. In-depth interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were analyzed using Colaizzi’s seven-step protocol, and themes were identified to illustrate the lived experience of the mothers. Results: Five global themes emerged from interviews with mothers. However, this article focuses on one global theme, “I had one job and that was to make milk,” and the supporting subthemes: (1) “I was heartbroken,” (2) “Pumping is a full-time thing,” and (3) “I literally sacrificed nights.” Conclusion: This study provides insight into the complex experience that mothers in the southeastern United States undergo when expressing milk for their VLBW infants.