| Description |
In the present study, I examined the extent and effect of audience tailoring in a sample of college-going emerging adults (n = 106). Participants reported four narratives for the researcher, and then edited them for mothers and friends, producing eight edited narratives each (n = 848 narratives) in response to prompts for specific life events (nadir experience, transgression, turning point, peak experience). Narratives were coded for type (insertion, deletion, replacement, minor, other) and effect on the narrative (more factual, more interpretive, other). In general, participants made more edits for mothers than friends, and the types of edits suggest that they are more elaborative with friends. Gender differences were also explored, with results suggesting that males make fewer edits for all audiences than females. Implications for narrative identity formation are discussed. |
