This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Burleson, B. R. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

The Production of Comforting Messages: Social-Cognitive Foundations

Purdue University

Prior empirical research has documented the existence of significant individual differences in the quality of the comforting strategies people produce: some people typically produce relatively insensitive, unresponsive comforting strategies while other people produce highly empathic and sensitive comforting strategies. This paper describes the nature and significance of comforting behaviour, discusses methods employed in the study of comforting, and reviews literature regarding the role of social-cognitive processes in the production of sensitive comforting strategies. Two distinct explanations for the relationship between social cognition and sensitive comforting are discussed: the role-taking account and the goal complexity account. These accounts are compared critically and directions for future research are outlined.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				E. L. MacGeorge, S. J. Gillihan, W. Samter, and R. A. Clark Skill Deficit or Differential Motivation?: Testing Alternative Explanations for Gender Differences in the Provision of Emotional Support Communication Research, June 1, 2003; 30(3): 272 - 303. [Abstract] [PDF]

				R. M. Perrine On Being Supportive: The Emotional Consequences of Listening to Another's Distress Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, August 1, 1993; 10(3): 371 - 384. [Abstract]

				C. I. Notarius and L. R. Herrick Listener Response Strategies to a Distressed Other Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, February 1, 1988; 5(1): 97 - 108. [Abstract]