Prisons,old cars,and Christmas trees: A metaphoric analysis of familial communication

This paper is a metaphoric analysis that explores college students’ perceptions of their families in relation to their family of origin, concept of family, and family communication. Metaphors were thematically analyzed and placed in categories of positive, negative and neutral responses given by individuals. Constant comparative method was also used to identify themes and dimensions among the metaphors. Throughout the results, students had an overwhelmingly positive attitude toward their family of origin and the concept of family. Responses about family communication, however, tended to range mainly from a neutral to negative perception. Additional results, implications, and future directions for family communication research are also discussed.