Father‐daughter dramas: A Q‐investigation of rhetorical visions

Abstract

The relationship between a father and daughter strongly influences a daughter's sense of self and how she communicates with others. Bormann's Symbolic Convergence Theory (SCT) was used to conduct a fantasy theme analysis (FTA) of the academic and popular rhetoric produced by and about fathers and daughters. Four rhetorical visions were identified: the Knight in Shining Armor, the Buddy, the Authoritarian, and the Shadow, each composed of dramas regarding description of the father, activities and communication he engaged in with his daughter, and the results of their relationship. Additionally, nine non-vision dramas were identified. Images from the FTA were transferred to a Q-sort card deck, which was sorted by 45 adult daughters to assess their level of acceptance, rejection, or neutrality to the dramas. QUANAL analysis revealed four types from the population which closely corresponded to the rhetorical analysis: the Essential Companion, the Silent Intruder, the Loving Patriarch, and the Storyteller. Similarities and differences between the rhetorical images and the self-referent types from the subject pool are addressed, followed by theoretical, methodological, relational and practical implications.

Father‐daughter relationships in Disney's animated films

“…Typically, these are families in which parents are less willing to negotiate and provide freedom, and so fail to develop a comfortable climate for identity exploration. As a consequence, they diminish adolescents' self-esteem and frequendy encounter rebellion (Apter, 1990;Endres, 1997;Fulmer, 1999;Galvin & Brommel, 2000;Gecas & Schwalbe, 1986;Noller, 1995;Phillips, 1996;Preto, 1999;Quintana & Kerr, 1993;Sheppard et al, 1985;Stierlin, 1994;Weiss, 1994).…”

“…Identity exploration and formation begin to solidify during adolescence, and families that encourage identity exploration and achievement most likely produce adolescents with healthy psychological adjustment (Endres, 1997;Gecas 8c Schwalbe, 1986;Hardie, 1999;Noller, 1995;Sheppard et al, 1985). Also, adolescents who have positive relationships with their parents are likely to model the same social skills as their parents (Noller, 1995).…”

“…Conflict in this area stems from the father's lack of trust in his daughter, which is manifest in his rules and restrictions regarding her dating and his unwillingness to acknowledge or accept her as a sexual being (Endres, 1997;Noller, 1995). If the daughter separates or distances herself from her father, it is likely he will punish her in order to get compliance with his demands (Noller, 1995).…”

“…2 The first paradigm considers families that successfully navigate adolescence, families in which the father allows his children freedom to explore adolescence. Typically, these are families in which parents are willing to negotiate, provide a comfortable climate for identity exploration, enhance rather than diminish self-esteem, provide appropriate modeling for problem solving, and allow their adolescents to make important decisions (Apter, 1990;Endres, 1997;Galvin & Brommel, 2000;Gecas & Schwalbe, 1986;Noller, 1995;Preto, 1999;Quintana & Kerr, 1993;Sheppard et al, 1985;Weiss, 1994).…”

“…The most successful transitions for adolescents occur in families in which parents encourage moves toward autonomy and willingly relinquish control after working with the adolescent to redefine a more balanced parent-adolescent relationship that is more mutual and equal (Apter, 1990;Endres, 1997;Gecas & Schwalbe, 1986;Hardie, 1999;Noller, 1995;Stierlin, 1994).…”