Friendship Talk as Identity Work: Defining the Self Through Friend Relationships

    Authors

    A. K. Anthony;J. McCabe

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Symb. Interact.

    Keywords

    identity work; friendship; emerging adulthood; narrative self-identity; othering; INTERACTIONIST ANALYSIS; CONSTRUCTION; DISCOURSE; HOMELESS; COLLEGE; SUPPORT; Sociology

    Abstract

    This paper places friendships at the center of individuals' identity work, examining how individuals construct self-identities through their talk about friend relationships and networks. We conceptualize this friendship talk as a subcategory of identity talk. From interviews with emerging adults, we find three strategies of friendship talk: envisioning self through others, betterment distancing, and situating with networks. These strategies demonstrate unique ways identity construction occurs through talk about friends. Individuals verbally connect with and separate from friends while constructing desired selves and moral identities. We suggest that friendship talk strategies may be generic social processes that apply beyond emerging adulthood.

    Journal Title

    Symbolic Interaction

    Volume

    38

    Issue/Number

    1

    Publication Date

    1-1-2015

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    64

    Last Page

    82

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000349399500004

    ISSN

    0195-6086

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