Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Publication Date
Spring 5-1-2024
Journal
Honours Undergraduate Theses
Abstract
This study explores the influence of emoticons and the mention of a potential third-party romantic rival on partner jealousy through direct messages (DMs). This experiment included a sample of 62 young adults who were presented with hypothetical DMs from their romantic partners and were randomly assigned to one of four conditions (threat/emoticon, threat/no-emoticon, no-threat/emoticon and no-threat/no-emoticon). Participants' emotional, behavioural, and cognitive responses were measured. The results indicated main effects for both the presence of emoticons and romantic threats on positive emotions, suggesting that both factors significantly affect emotional reactions in digital communications. This study supports the idea that digital elements included in messages like emoticons, can influence a romantic partners’ level of jealousy. This study highlights the complex relationship between communication in the modern era and relationship outcomes. Furthermore, the findings suggest the need for clearer communication strategies when undergoing sensitive situations within romantic relationships.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Notes
Thesis Advisor(s): Glen Gorman