Communication Privacy Management Theory: Exploring Coordination and Ownership Between Friends

Abstract

Researchers in this study explored friends’ boundary coordination and ownership surrounding private information as posed by Communication Privacy Management theory. One hundred pairs of friends (N = 200) completed measures about the risk of a prior disclosure and the degree of discussion about who could/could not know the information. In support of Communication Privacy Management theory, disclosers engaged in greater boundary coordination when the information was riskier. When the information was riskier, disclosers and receivers perceived that the receivers had less ownership rights over the information. Disclosers reported negative emotional reactions to hypothetical dissemination of higher-risk information when they perceived their friends as having less ownership, but positive emotional reactions of lower-risk information when they perceived their friends as having more ownership. Receivers were more likely to disseminate the information when they perceived they had ownership over the information.

Keywords:

• Communication Privacy Management Theory
• Coordination
• Disclosure
• Ownership
• Privacy
• Risk

Notes

*p < .05, **p < .01, ***p < .001.

*p < .05, **p < .01, ***p < .001.

Factor loadings for upset factor were angry (.78), embarrassed (.84), humiliating (.80), anxious (.69), sad (.69), betrayed (.76), violated (.71), comfortable—reverse coded (.73). Factor loadings for the relieved factor were content (.70), grateful (.86), and satisfied (.91).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Carrie D. Kennedy-Lightsey

Carrie D. Kennedy-Lightsey (Ph.D., West Virginia University, 2009) teaches in the Department of Communication Studies at Texas State University, San Marcos.

Matthew M. Martin

Matthew M. Martin (Ph.D., Kent State University, 1992) is a professor and chair of the Department of Communication Studies at West Virginia University.

Michelle Thompson

Michelle Thompson (M.A., West Virginia University, 2007) was masters' student. In the Department of Communication Studies at West Virginia University.

Kimberly Leezer Himes

Kimberly Leezer Himes (M.A., West Virginia University, 2007) was masters' student. In the Department of Communication Studies at West Virginia University.

Brooke Zackery Clingerman

Brooke Zackery Clingerman (M.A., West Virginia University, 2007) was masters' student. In the Department of Communication Studies at West Virginia University.