Adolescents' Communicative Goals for Problematic Events: Defining Content and Examining the Influence of Identity Processing Orientations

Abstract

This two-stage investigation identified the domain of adolescents' communicative intentions and examined the influence of identity development on the importance of single and multiple communication goals for problematic events in adolescents' close friend and romantic relationships. In Stage 1, 100 high schoolers described a problematic event and provided descriptions of their communicative intentions after the situation. A cluster analysis of the intention descriptions indicated that adolescents might pursue one of eight communication goals. In Stage 2, 180 high schoolers completed measures of identity processing orientation and communication goals for managing a problematic event. Results indicated that, to an extent, identity processing orientation influences judgments of the importance of particular—but not multiple—goals after problematic events in adolescents' close relationships.