S(he) loves me, s(he) loves me not: Predictors of relational information‐seeking in courtship and beyond

Relational Uncertainty and Relationship Talk within Courtship: A Longitudinal Actor–Partner Interdependence Model

“…For example, scholars have documented how people's reports of Relational Uncertainty 5 the presence of relationship talk coincide with turning points (Baxter & Bullis, 1986;Bullis et al, 1993) and secret tests (Bell & Buerkel-Rothfuss, 1990). Acitelli's program of research has targeted marital satisfaction, revealing that (1) the presence of relationship talk in hypothetical scenarios is positively associated with people's perceptions of marital satisfaction (Acitelli, 1988), (2) the amount of relationship talk husbands engage in during joint interviews is positively associated with marital satisfaction for wives (Acitelli, 1992), and (3) the amount of relationship talk couples enact when one partner is suffering from chronic illness or lung cancer (Badr et al, 2008) is positively associated with their marital satisfaction.…”

Toward a Theory of Motivated Information Management

“…Although the most efficient method of information seeking is to interrogate a target for information, research suggests that the majority of social circumstances evidence less direct means of seeking information. These include talking around the issue (Planalp & Honeycutt, 1985), disclosing information in hopes of receiving reciprocal disclosure (e.g., Berger, 1979), relaxing the target (e.g., Kellermann & Berger, 1984), and spying (Bell & Buerkel-Rothfuss, 1990), among others (see also Miller & Jablin, 1991). In addition, Brashers et al (2002) noted that patients often use indirect requests and other indirect information-seeking strategies during medical encounters, despite their relative inefficiency, because they perceive that such tactics are more deferential.…”

Manifestations of Relationship Conceptualizations in Conversation

“…Relationship talk encompasses those content messages that pertain to the nature of the relationship between partners (Acitelli, 1988). Relationship talk provides a venue for individuals to define the status of their association (Baxter, 1987), to conduct relationship transitions (Baxter & Bullis, 1986;Bullis, Clark, & Sline, 1993), to negotiate critical relationship events (Emmers & Canary, 1996), and to execute bids for increased or decreased intimacy (Bell & Buerkel-Rothfuss, 1990;Owen, 1987). Despite the potential usefulness of relationship talk, people typically view it as threatening to both themselves and their relationships (Baxter & Wilmot, 1985).…”