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ABSTRACT
Although the topic of social support has received significant attention from communication scholars, the role of support seekers and seeking warrants greater consideration. We synthesize research examining cultural differences in support seeking, support seeking message properties, dilemmas of support seeking, and connections between support seeking and provision. An agenda for future scholarship rooted in dynamic systems theory is then proposed. Support seeking is conceptualized as a phenomenon that is co-constructed during conversation with support providers. Opportunities for connecting existing domains of support seeking research as part of conversations and relationships are discussed.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Notes
1 For example, Goldsmith notes that ‘whining about the problem’ (i.e. talking about it in a high-pitched voice) is coded as an indirect strategy, but it is as direct as strategies like ‘telling details about the problem’ or ‘talks about feelings.’ Additionally, whining is categorized as a verbal strategy, when this particular cue should be considered nonverbal by virtue of involving vocalics. Focusing on approach/avoidance also makes it possible to consider verbal and nonverbal behaviors in concert and mitigates the problem of trying to understand them in isolation.