The nature of facework in discussion of everyday problems between friends

Abstract

This study examined how facework is managed in social support interactions between friends and how facework affects satisfaction of both support seekers and support providers. The study extends previous research on social support by examining solidarity, approbation, and tact as aspects of positive and negative face and by examining actual interactions between friends about a problem support seekers are having. We found that support seekers were most satisfied when support providers minimized the imposition of their advice/suggestion and showed an explicit appreciation for the support seeker's problem. Support providers felt most satisfied when support seekers asked directly for help and showed admiration for the provider's ability to help solve the problem. A positive relationship was found between support seekers’ and support providers’ expressions of approbation and solidarity. Controllability and importance of the problem did not emerge as significant factors in determining any facework strategies of support seekers or providers. Additionally, the closeness of the relationship between friends and the empathic skill of each did not predict types of facework used by participants.