Schmitz, Melissa (2025) How do epistemic claims function within face-work in coming-out conversations between parents and gay men? Bachelor thesis, Psychology.
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Abstract
Coming-out conversations between gay men and their parents are emotionally charged disclosures that often involve navigating identity threats and relational risks. Research has often addressed face-work, epistemics, and coming-out as separate phenomena, but how they intersect has received limited attention. This study addresses that gap by examining how epistemic claims function as part of face-work during familial coming-out interactions. Specifically, it investigates how different types of epistemic claims are used to manage or act as face-threatening acts. A qualitative, observational design was used to analyse nine naturally occurring YouTube videos of coming-out conversations. Data were examined using an adapted Iterative Micro-Identity Content Analysis (IMICA), grounded in Goffman’s (1967) face-work theory and Brown and Levinson’s (1987) politeness framework. Three key patterns emerged: First, most conversations addressed tensions around when parents were told and why, reflecting issues of epistemic withholding. Second, parents often claimed prior knowledge of their son’s identity. Third, expressions of disapproval or discomfort were frequently paired with references to societal or religious knowledge. These findings show that epistemic claims are central to both challenging and protecting face during disclosure. The study advances understanding of identity and family communication by positioning epistemics as a key mechanism in relational negotiation.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Bachelor) |
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| Supervisor name: | Gmelin, J.H. |
| Degree programme: | Psychology |
| Differentiation route: | None [Bachelor Psychology] |
| Date Deposited: | 23 Jul 2025 07:57 |
| Last Modified: | 23 Jul 2025 07:57 |
| URI: | http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/5664 |
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