Self-Disclosure About Cherished Possessions: Effects on Roommate Rapport, Territoriality and Loneliness
Year: 2013
Type: article
Abstract: This study focused on how self-disclosure about cherished possessions between female freshmen college roommates affected their levels of rapport, territoriality, and loneliness. The research was conducted at a Midwestern university during the first two weeks of the Fall 2011 semester with roommates who were previously unacquainted prior to cohabitation. The study was conducted in two phases. In the first phase, participants were administered three pre-tests during the first week of the semester. In the second phase, they were asked to come back a week later and engage in a self-disclosure session with each other. Roommates in the control group self-disclosed about their textbooks, while roommates in an experimental group self-disclosed about their cherished possessions. Results indicated that while the topic of cherished possessions did not have a significant effect on rapport, territoriality, or loneliness, the passage of time between the pre-tests and the post-tests did yield significant effects for rapport, some areas of territoriality, and loneliness.
Author: Christopher H. Smejkal
Institution: Olivet Nazarene University
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W89349323