ABSTRACT
Although interpersonal argument is usually studied in overt confl ict situations (e.g., marital confl ict or family discussion), managing disagreement and doubt can be embedded in other speech activities as well. Such is the case when friends discuss their personal problems for the purpose of deliberating over options and obtaining support. Features of “troubles talk” have been documented as a cultural form of North American speech (Goldsmith, 2004; Philipsen, 1992). In these conversations, providing good reasons can be diffi cult because overt disagreement can be face threatening and not legitimate the interlocutor’s perspective. While interpersonal scholars have focused mostly on effective emotional support in these types of situations, some have begun to identify specifi c argument practices at work in troubles talk messages (MacGeorge, Feng, Butler, & Budarz, 2004). Continuing this line of work, this essay seeks to identify narrative argument practices in these interpersonal messages. The focus here is on messages that address self-doubt in esteem-threatening situations.
