An Exploratory Analysis of Critical Incidents of Closeness in the Mother/Son Relationship

Abstract

The purpose of the current project was to investigate critical moments affecting closeness within the historically understudied mother/son relationship. A significant amount of research on the interpersonal qualities of the parent-child relationship has been conducted. A gap in knowledge regarding opposite-sex parent-child relationships, however, continues to exist. The purpose of this project was to identify significant life events that either increased or decreased closeness within the mother/son relationship, thereby altering the relational quality of the dyad. Using a critical incident methodology, 138 sons and 57 mothers (not related) participated in the study. Sons reported 130 critical incidents affecting closeness with his mother, resulting in six major categories of events. Mothers reported 72 critical incidents affecting closeness with her son, resulting in seven major categories of events. Both mothers and sons found considerable agreement concerning the moments affecting their perceptions of closeness. Issues of social support, family crisis, distance, and conflict emerged as significant experiences through which mother/son closeness is maintained or inhibited.

Promoção da saúde em famílias com paramiloidose: papéis dos mais velhos junto dos mais novos

“…Saúde Pública 2017; 33(5):e00185515 e papéis significativos 24,25 . Um incidente corresponde à atividade humana observável, que permite inferir sobre o sujeito e a sua ação; envolve a descrição de como alguém agiu, respondeu, sentiu e/ou pensou sobre o evento.…”

Examining context shifts’ effect on relationship trajectories in friendships using Turning Point Theory

“…However, we believe that when they are identified as turning points, context shifts offer insight into how friendships develop. It may possible that context shifts provide a catalyst; past literature has noted the relevance of joint or shared activities for relationship development (Golish, 2000; Morman & Herrick, 2008; Willer, 2007).…”

“…At these moments of transformation, individuals change their perspective of themselves and of their relationship with one another; it is a transition which reformulates the relationship, encouraging a new perspective from both partners (Bolton, 1961). As such, turning points are instances of progress and transformation (Baxter & Bullis, 1986; Johnson et al, 2003; Morman & Herrick, 2008). Turning points can be obvious or dramatic, like moving in together or becoming engaged, but they can also be subtle, such as using inside jokes or creating shared routines (Bolton, 1961; Graham, 1997).…”

“…Furthermore, turning points can occur throughout the duration of relationships, making development appear more dialectic than linear (Johnson et al, 2003). Relationships also go through moments of change both toward and away from one another, illustrating turning points to be associated with changes in relational closeness (Docan-Morgan & Manusov, 2009; Morman & Herrick, 2008). Throughout the duration of friendship, turning points mark changes in commitment and are inflection points of progress (Becker et al, 2009; Johnson et al, 2003).…”

The Challenge of Defining “Family”

“…Nuclear families and the various biological relationships within them have comprised the bulk of the populations studied by family communication researchers. That is, scholars have investigated the biological relationships embedded within nuclear families, including relationships between siblings (Myers, 2011;Myers & Bryant, 2008), fathers and daughters (Weiner-Levy, 2011), mothers and daughters (Penington, 2012), and mothers and sons (Morman & Whitely, 2012). Some scholars have also studied the binuclear family (Sweeney, 2010), an arrangement occurring when divorced spouses/parents retain a relationship over two households.…”