Self-presentation in Everyday Life

Effort, Closeness, and Satisfaction

Bibliographic Data

ID15411648
AuthorsCourtney L Gosnell (0000-0003-1141-1801, Clemson University, corresponding author), Thomas W Britt (0000-0003-1549-0068, Clemson University), Eric S McKibben (Clemson University)
Year2009
Volume10
Issue1
Pages18-31
Publication date2009-12-22
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueSelf and Identity (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1529-8868 • E-ISSN: 1529-8876
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/15298860903429567
OpenAlexW1977820966
LanguageEN
Citations received10
References cited18

The present study examined how effort put forth during self-presentations is related to satisfaction with the interaction and relationship partner depending on the closeness of the partner to the individual. Individuals responded to Palm Pilot computers when they experienced an interaction over the course of four days. Following each interaction, participants rated the self-presentational effort they put forth, closeness to the interaction partner, and their interaction satisfaction. They also identified their relationship satisfaction for frequent interaction partners. Results of multilevel models revealed that effort was positively related to relationship satisfaction when participants were not very close to the partner, but was negatively related to relationship satisfaction when closeness to the partner was high. Effort was also less strongly related to satisfaction with the interaction when participants were closer to their interaction partner. The results reveal the importance of reduced effort towards interactions with close others, perhaps allowing individuals a "backstage" environment to recuperate. Keywords: ClosenessImpression managementRelationship satisfactionRelationshipsSelf-presentationSocial interaction Acknowledgments The authors would like to thank DeWayne Moore for his help with the manuscript. Notes 1. The intra-class correlation (ICC) was .20 for satisfaction with the interaction, .16 for closeness felt during the interaction, and .41 for effort exerted during the interaction. Although there was substantial between-person variance, the majority of variance in these Level 1 variables could be attributed to within-person as opposed to between-person variation. Effort exhibited a larger amount of between-participant variance than either satisfaction or closeness, indicating greater individual differences in the tendency to put forth effort during social interactions. 2. The intra-class correlation (ICC) was .09 for satisfaction with the relationship, .28 for closeness felt during the interaction, and .69 for effort exerted during the interaction. Although there was substantial between-person variance, the majority of variance in these Level 1 variables could be attributed to within-person as opposed to between-person variation. Effort exhibited a larger amount of between-participant variance than either satisfaction or closeness, indicating greater individual differences in the tendency to put forth effort in relationships

Closeness · Interpersonal interaction · Variance (accounting · Attachment and Relationship Dynamics · Mathematics · Psychology · Psychology of Social Influence · Social and Intergroup Psychology · Social Psychology

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