Communication expectations with a future mother-in-law examined via memorable messages.

The mother-in-law is one of the most common subjects for a joke and is often used dramatically in the media, but a relationship with a mother-in-law remains an understudied relationship in family communication. The current study examines the communication expectations individuals have for a future relationship with a mother-in-law through an assessment of 76 memorable messages, the sources of these messages, and an assessment of desired closeness with a mother-in-law to further our understanding of this unique relationship.