The Mismangement of Marital Disclosures in the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

University of Kentucky UKnowledge Theses and Dissertations--Communication Communication 2012 THE MISMANGEMENT OF MARITAL DISCLOSURES IN THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF BEVERLY HILLS Randi Cariella Campbell University of Kentucky, [email protected] Right click to open a feedback form in a new tab to let us know how this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Campbell, Randi Cariella, "THE MISMANGEMENT OF MARITAL DISCLOSURES IN THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF BEVERLY HILLS" (2012). Theses and Dissertations--Communication. 4. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/comm_etds/4 This Master's Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Communication at UKnowledge. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations--Communication by an authorized administrator of UKnowledge. For more information, please contact [email protected]. STUDENT AGREEMENT: I represent that my thesis or dissertation and abstract are my original work. Proper attribution has been given to all outside sources. I understand that I am solely responsible for obtaining any needed copyright permissions. I have obtained and attached hereto needed written permission statements(s) from the owner(s) of each third-party copyrighted matter to be included in my work, allowing electronic distribution (if such use is not permitted by the fair use doctrine). I hereby grant to The University of Kentucky and its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible my work in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I agree that the document mentioned above may be made available immediately for worldwide access unless a preapproved embargo applies. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of my work. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of my work. I understand that I am free to register the copyright to my work. REVIEW, APPROVAL AND ACCEPTANCE The document mentioned above has been reviewed and accepted by the student’s advisor, on behalf of the advisory committee, and by the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS), on behalf of the program; we verify that this is the final, approved version of the student’s dissertation including all changes required by the advisory committee. The undersigned agree to abide by the statements above. Randi Cariella Campbell, Student Dr. Deanna Sellnow, Major Professor Dr. Timothy L. Sellnow, Director of Graduate Studies THE MISMANGEMENT OF MARITAL DISCLOSURES IN THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF BEVERLY HILLS _________________________________ THESIS _________________________________ A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in the College of Communication and Information Studies at the University of Kentucky By Randi Cariella Campbell Lexington, Kentucky Director: Dr. Deanna Sellnow, Associate Professor of Communication Lexington, Kentucky 2011 Copyright © Randi Cariella Campbell 2012 ABSTRACT OF THESIS THE MISMANAGEMENT OF MARITAL DISCLOSURES IN THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF BEVERLY HILLS Reality television is unique from other television programming because its format is less scripted than typical entertainment television programs, but not as candid as documentary style shows. Aspects of cast members’ private lives are publicly aired as “real.” The consequences for airing one’s private life in the public sphere are unclear. This may be especially important to study when the private disclosures reveal activities that may be unethical, immoral, illegal, or abusive. Petronio’s (date) communication privacy management theory was used to examine the martial disclosures that occurred between Taylor and Russell Armstrong, cast members of the reality television show The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Two seasons of the show were analyzed and coded according to the five suppositions of CPM. Results revealed several aspects of Walker’s cycle of violence theory being played out in the public sphere without consequence. Additionally, co-ownership of information appeared to constitute a license to gossip freely about private disclosures shared in confidence between certain individuals with any and all other cast members. KEYWORDS: Communication Privacy Management, Reality Television, Marriage, Abuse, Disclosure Randi Cariella Campbell April 30, 2012 THE MISMANAGEMENT OF MARITAL DISCLOSURES IN THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF BEVERLY HILLS By Randi Cariella Campbell Deanna D. Sellnow, Ph.D. Director of Thesis Timothy L. Sellnow, Ph.D. Director of Graduate Studies May 2, 2012 To Little Clinton ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First and foremost, I would like to thank my wonderful committee members for their continued patience, support, and guidance. Dr. Deanna Sellnow, Dr. Tim Sellnow, and Dr. Michael Arrington without you none of this would be possible and I thank you for all the help you provided me along the way. I am so appreciative of the ways you have challenged me and helped me to grow throughout this process. I would like to thank Deanna especially for all of the support and encouragement you have given me since undergrad. If you had not encouraged me to pursue communications and graduate school, I would not be here. I am so thankful for the ways you have invested in me and looked after me throughout my time at UK. I cannot begin to express my appreciation and respect for you. Secondly, I would like to thank my UK family for the help and guidance they provided me. Specifically, Renee Kaufmann, my mentor and one of my best friends. I think back to our first coffee date at Starbucks and am so thankful the two of us were placed together. From our coffee runs, to co-teaching together, to theories of learning, I feel so blessed to get to walk through this program with you. Holly and Morgan, it has been a pleasure to battle through this program together. We have laughed and cried, sometime simultaneously, but the end is in sight and I fear it is too soon. I have so enjoyed our time here together. Last, but certainly not least, I would like to thank my wonderful family for their emotional and financial support, which they have provided me with my entire life, it is because of you that I am here today. Thank you Mom for always iii loving and sacrificing for me. You have always told me I could do whatever I put my mind to and your belief in me has been so important to me throughout the years. Dad, thank you for pushing me to do this and believing I would survive. I have enjoyed being able to vent to you about school and for your steady and encouraging response. To Little Clinton, thank you for your patience with me these past two years (or maybe I should say four) as I have complained and cried to you about my graduate work. I love you and appreciate you more than I can say. I cannot wait to be your wife and start our adventure together. I want to thank my roommates for letting me dominate the living room and subject them to endless hours of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. I have enjoyed doing life with you girls. Angie, thank you for keeping me sane and for reminding me of the bigger picture. I am so thankful for you and your sweet family. What a strong, beautiful picture of Christ. Thank you again to each and every one of you! I love you so much! iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements .............................................................................................. iii Chapter One: Introduction/Rationale ..................................................................... 1 Problem and Rationale .................................................................................................. 1 Reality Television. ..................................................................................................... 2 Goffman’s Performance. ........................................................................................... 4 The Real Housewives. .............................................................................................. 7 Organization .................................................................................................................. 9 Chapter Two: Review of Literature……………………………………………..……11 Communication Privacy Management Theory ............................................................ 11 Disclosure. .............................................................................................................. 17 Motivation. ............................................................................................................... 18 Secrecy…………………………………………………………………………………….18 Types of disclosure. ................................................................................................ 19 Types of confidants. ................................................................................................ 20 Cycle of Violence Theory ............................................................................................ 22 Myths and characteristics. ....................................................................................... 22 Cycle of violence theory. ......................................................................................... 25 Research Questions .................................................................................................... 27 Chapter Three: Methods ...................................................................................... 29 Data Analysis .............................................................................................................. 29 Participants. ...............................................................................................................

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