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Women's Communication with Intimates and Acquaintances

Texas Tech University, USA

Donna L. Sollie

Texas Tech University, USA

This study rated the communication behaviours, verbal and non-verbal, of women who discussed topics of low intimacy with a same-sex other (either an intimate friend or an acquaintance) and with an opposite-sex other (either an intimate friend or an acquaintance). Results indicated that there were interactions of gender of target person with degree of acquaintance. In discussions with both same-and opposite-sex acquaintances, the female participants seemed to take responsibility for keeping the conversation going; however, their verbal behaviours differed depending upon the gender of the target person. Opposite-sex interactions produced more questions from the women while same-sex interactions produced more subtle verbal behaviours such as active listening responses. Opposite-sex intimates were responded to more warmly and openly than were same-sex intimates, probably due in part to the greater closeness reported with the opposite-sex intimate than with the same-sex intimate. Results were discussed in terms of sex-role appropriateness of behaviours as well as the apparent complexity of communication behaviours.

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, Vol. 3, No. 1, 19-30 (1986)
DOI: 10.1177/0265407586031002


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