Keywords

Self Enhancement, Self Verification, Confirmation, Emotional Support, Friendship

Abstract

This study investigates the connection between self-enhancement and self-verification and confirmation and emotional support. The hypotheses predicted that there is a positive relationship between confirmation and self-enhancement and self-verification; people feel good about themselves when confirmed by friends, people feel that friends know them well when they are confirmed. The hypotheses also predicted that there would be a positive relationship between emotional support and self-enhancement and self-verification; people feel good when friends provide emotional support, and people feel that friends know them well when provided emotional support. A research question was also posed: Does family functioning have an effect on perceptions of self-enhancement and self-verification messages? To find the answers, a questionnaire was completed by 279 individuals. The results indicate two types of enhancement messages; a more specific and positive form of enhancement and more global (and negative) self perception of rejection. The findings are interesting and unique to self-enhancement in communication research which provides many avenues for continued research. Results also suggest that different elements of confirming communication influences perceptions of enhancement in different ways, emotional support predicts verification.

Notes

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Graduation Date

2009

Advisor

Weger, Harry

Degree

Master of Arts (M.A.)

College

College of Sciences

Department

Nicholson School of Communication

Degree Program

Communication

Format

application/pdf

Identifier

CFE0002939

URL

http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/etd/CFE0002939

Language

English

Release Date

November 2009

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Access Status

Masters Thesis (Open Access)

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Included in

Communication Commons

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