The role of emotion word use in perceived responsiveness during getting acquainted interactions
Author
Çiftçi, Öykü
Advisor
Günaydın, Gül
Date
2019-08Publisher
Bilkent University
Language
English
Type
ThesisItem Usage Stats
166
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Abstract
Past research has showed that perceived responsiveness (i.e., the extent to which
people think that their relationship partners understand, care for, and appreciate
them) is positively associated with individual and relational well-being. However,
predictors of responsiveness were not extensively investigated. Researchers
predominantly investigated stable individual differences as predictors of
responsiveness and ignored dynamic factors such as language use and time. In
addition, perceived responsiveness was mostly studied in the context of close
relationships even though responsiveness is an important construct for less intimate
relationships. To fill these gaps, the current study examined the role of emotion word
use in perceived responsiveness during getting acquainted interactions. Female
participants (N = 200) were instructed to engage in three 15-minute interactions in pairs, in which they took turns in reading aloud and answering given sets of
questions. These interactions were video-recorded and transcribed into text files to
capture participants’ emotion word use via a computerized text analysis program.
After each interaction, participants reported their interaction partner’s
responsiveness. Results of multilevel analyses revealed that participants who used a
greater number of positive emotion words during interactions also perceived their
interaction partner as more responsive. In addition, as time went by, participants
perceived their partner as more responsive. However, negative emotion word usage
did not significantly predict perceived responsiveness of the interaction partner.
These findings contribute to the responsiveness literature by revealing that dynamic
interpersonal factors such as emotion word use during a live interaction and time
play a role in perceived responsiveness of newly acquainted individuals.
Keywords
EmotionsInterpersonal relationships
Language analysis
Multilevel analysis
Perceived responsiveness