Family Aid in Finding Love Through Beneficial Impression Management on Reality TV: The Case for Representational Social Exchange

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Family aid in securing a romantic relationship is an important part of the process of relationship initiation. Such focused encounters may exemplify high levels of social exchange dynamics. Yet, not much is known about how friends and family can navigate the social exchange using various beneficial impression management tactics to successfully aid a loved one in securing a date with a suitor. Using five episodes from season seven of the South African reality dating show Date My Family, the study fills this gap by investigating how the motivational forces of social exchange help us understand the enactment of beneficial impression management on behalf of a loved one by family and friends with a potential suitor. Textual analysis of 15 family dinner dates suggests that both information management and behavioral aspects of beneficial impression management are indispensable in making a favorable impression on a suitor. Consequently, the higher the perception of a fair exchange, the higher the investment in the beneficial impression management by friends and family.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)328-341
Number of pages14
JournalSouth African Review of Sociology
Volume53
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023

Keywords

  • close social network
  • Reality dating shows
  • romantic relationships
  • self-presentation
  • social exchange theory

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Social Sciences

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Family Aid in Finding Love Through Beneficial Impression Management on Reality TV: The Case for Representational Social Exchange'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this