Negative Communicative Behaviors in Coming Out Conversations

Author:

• Jimmie Manning (Northern Kentucky University)

Abstract:

This essay employs data from 130 ethnographic coming out narratives to determine communicative behaviors considered as negative in coming out conversations. Through sophisticated qualitative data analysis, the piece reviews negative communicative behaviors exhibited in the conversations both by those who were revealing sexual orientation and those who were receiving the disclosure. The findings are also considered as an example of how communicative inquiry can help people navigate difficult conversations (particularly in areas where ideal communicative behaviors are often assumed) and calls for the development of communicative coming out theory.