Symbols of Relationship Identity in Relationship Cultures

Relationships are unique mini-cultures in which the parties construct meaning systems in a variety of ways, including ritual enactments, stories and symbols. This study examines the content features and functions of the symbols by which relationship parties identify their relationships. A group of 108 randomly selected respondents from a university population was interviewed with regard to the relationship symbols for either a romantic relationship or a friendship relationship. Results indicated a total of 499 symbols which were distributed among five basic forms: behavioural actions, prior events/times, physical objects, special places and cultural artefacts. These types differed in their perceived importance, with Places and Events/Times perceived as the most important. Respondents attributed nine substantive functions to their relationship symbols, the most frequent of which were prompting recollection, indicating intimacy, promoting communion, providing stimulation/fun and affording seclusion from others. Romantic and friendship relationships did not differ in the quantity, valence, importance or functional richness of their respective relationship symbols; however, romantic relationships were more likely to have physical object symbols, whereas friendships were more likely to have behavioural action and event/time symbols. Relationship closeness was positively correlated with symbol valence, importance and functional richness. Females reported their relationship symbols to be more positive, more multi-functional and somewhat more important than the relationship symbols that males reported.