Abstract
Conversational styles of mothers and their preadolescent and middle adolescent daughters were examined and compared with the styles that mothers use with their friends. Middle-class Caucasian women (12 mothers of 8- to 10-year-olds; 12 mothers of 14- to 16-year-olds) participated in separate discussions with their daughters and adult friends. Rates of overlaps, simultaneous speech, and successful interruptions were coded. Mothers used different conversational styles when talking with the two partners. With friends, mothers used a high involvement style with high rates of overlaps and simultaneous speech. With daughters, mothers used a high considerateness style with low rates of overlaps and simultaneous speech, even though daughters used a high involvement style. Therefore, mothers and daughters experienced a "clash" in conversational styles.
Recommended Citation
Beaumont, Sherry L.
(2000)
"Conversational Styles of Mothers and Their Preadolescent
and Middle Adolescent Daughters,"
Merrill-Palmer Quarterly: Vol. 46:
Iss.
1, Article 7.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/mpq/vol46/iss1/7