Date of Graduation

8-2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Psychology (MA)

Degree Level

Graduate

Department

Psychological Science

Advisor/Mentor

Beike, Denise

Committee Member

Eidelman, Scott

Second Committee Member

Makhanova, Anastasia

Keywords

Close relationships; Self-disclosure; Perceived responsiveness; Sense of identity

Abstract

Previous research has indicated that identity is social in nature and that close relationships strengthen sense of identity, but details of this relationship are not well understood. Self-disclosure is a vital part of close relationships; thus, the present research sought to understand how talking about oneself is at play in the relation between relationship closeness and identity. In this study, 314 emerging adults (157 dyads; Mage = 19.2) engaged in an in-person interaction with either a close other or a stranger and, within this interaction, were assigned to engage in self-disclosure or a control task. Even though the closer participants were to their interaction partner, the stronger their sense of identity tended to be, the manipulations of closeness and self-disclosure did not strengthen sense of identity. But, the more responsive interaction partners were, the stronger sense of identity tended to be. This study adds to the body of work establishing that relationship closeness is related to sense of identity, provides support for the possibility of developmental change in this relation as people age, and suggests that the way people respond in interactions could be influential to sense of identity.

Share

COinS