Validating Women and Their Miscarriage Experiences: An Application of Confirmation Theory

Abstract

Individuals have a basic human need to be confirmed or validated (Buber, 1957; Laing, 1961; Sieburg, 1985). This need is met through verbal and nonverbal communicative acts (Dailey, 2008; Ellis, 2000; Sieburg, 1985). Ellis (2000) defines confirmation as a transactional process individuals use to communicate with others that lets them feel endorsed, recognized, and acknowledged as valuable, significant individuals. Confirmation “encourages communication so that individuals can explore, develop, and process their thoughts and feelings” (Dailey, 2006, p. 437), which has been shown to have numerous constructive outcomes. For example, confirmation has been positively associated with an individual’s well-being (Reis, Sheldon, Gable, Roscoe, & Ryan, 2000) and relational satisfaction (Gottman, 1994).

Specifically, confirming messages allow recipients to feel acknowledged and can cultivate an individual’s feelings of value and connection to others (Dailey, 2010; Sieburg, 1985). Individuals’ personal development is fostered through confirming messages that validate an individual’s sense of self (Dailey, 2010). Confirmation, then, is similar to person-centered messages that substantiate and legitimize individuals’ unique experiences. This is particularly beneficial for supportive communication that can utilize confirmation to facilitate sensemaking by allowing individuals to elaborate, process, and understand their experiences (Burleson & Goldsmith, 1998).