Cite as (APA style): Karakurt, Y. & Sarı, T. (2026). Honesty and Courtesy in Communication: A Phenomenological Study with Turkish Young Adults. The Global Psychotherapist, 6(1), 39-51 http://doi.org/10.52982/lkj289
Abstract: The study investigates how young adults perceive and experience honesty/directness and politeness/courtesy in their relationships. The research employed a phenomenological analysis. Qualitative data were obtained by administering semi-structured, open-ended questions to 32 participants via Google Forms. Phenomenological thematic analysis resulted in 13 themes and 35 codes. The findings reveal that participants defined honesty as clarity and sincerity, and courtesy as a value based on empathy and respect. They do not view courtesy and directness as opposing capabilities; rather, they hold that a balanced use of both is important for healthy communication. However, situations where the use of both capabilities in relationships becomes difficult were also identified. This is a pioneering study on how directness and courtesy are experienced in Türkiye in a cultural sense. There is a gap in the literature regarding the evaluation of these two capabilities in a relational context. It will form the basis for future scale studies in this field.
Keywords: directness, honesty, courtesy, key conflict, phenomenological study, Positive Psychotherapy