Showing papers in "Communication Quarterly in 1997"
TL;DR: Hugh Grant was arrested in Hollywood for lewd behavior with a prostitute and appeared on “The Tonight Show,”; “Larry King Live,’; ‘The Today Show, ’; and “Live with Regis and Kathie Lee,.
Abstract: Hugh Grant was arrested in Hollywood for lewd behavior with a prostitute. He appeared on “The Tonight Show,”; “Larry King Live,”; “The Today Show,”; “Live with Regis and Kathie Lee,”; and “The Late Show”; both to defend his image and to promote his new film, “Nine Months.”; Grant used mortification, bolstering, attacking one's accuser, and, to a lesser extent, denial to help restore his reputation. This essay uses this case as a springboard to contrast entertainment image repair with political and corporate image repair, arguing that important situational differences can be identified.
164 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a demographic profile of the typical graduate student protege and faculty mentor was found, and ten diverse communication strategies emerged that demonstrate how students initiate a mentoring relationship.
Abstract: Given the importance of mentoring in the academic context, this study proposed five objectives. Analyses of surveys from 145 students across 12 universities and diverse disciplines, revealed first of all, a demographic profile of the typical graduate student protege and faculty mentor. Second, ten diverse communication strategies emerged that demonstrate how students initiate a mentoring relationship. Third, protege evaluations of their initiation attempts revealed their efforts to be somewhat ineffective and unduly difficult. Fourth, students reported their mentors to provide primarily psychosocial, rather than career support. And fifth, proteges characterized their mentoring relationships as extremely positive and satisfying. Results throughout are, for the most part, independent of both protege and mentor demographics (including ethnicity).
126 citations
TL;DR: This paper argued that verbal aggressiveness represents expressions of inborn, biological functioning, which is supported by psychobiologists as articulated in the temperament literature, and they proposed a theory of verbal aggression supported by the work of psychophysics.
Abstract: Over the past ten years, a substantial body of research focusing on verbal aggressiveness has accumulated. One major observation emerging from this literature is that some people are more disposed toward aggressive symbolic action than are others. Despite this considerable research effort, why individuals vary in their predispositions toward aggressive communication in interpersonal contexts is not well understood. Current speculation about the origin of verbally aggressive predispositions reflects a long standing paradigm which assigns importance to various learning processes. However, communication scholars have ignored the work of psychobiologists that strongly points to inborn neurobiological bases for human behavior and a trivial impact of environment. In this essay, we propose a theory of verbal aggressiveness supported by the work of psychobiologists as articulated in the temperament literature. We contend that verbal aggressiveness represents expressions of inborn, biological functioning, which is...
80 citations
TL;DR: The authors examined the association between psychological climate and the types of communication relationships employees form with their peers 194 teachers completed a questionnaire measuring psychological climate They also reported their proportions of information, collegial and special peer relationships.
Abstract: This study examined the association between psychological climate and the types of communication relationships employees form with their peers 194 teachers completed a questionnaire measuring psychological climate They also reported their proportions of information, collegial and special peer relationships Perceptions of the organization's climate were associated with the types of communication relationships employees form with their peers These associations were moderated, in part, by gender, suggesting that men and women differ significantly in the ways they approach friendships at work Implications of these findings are discussed
72 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined the influence of biological sex and the sex composition of the dyad on actual and perceived affectionate behavior in platonic friendships and individuals' perceptions of the appropriateness and importance of affection in such friendships.
Abstract: Affectionate communication is critical for the development and maintenance of personal relationships. However, affectionate behavior varies widely across relationships. While the limited extant research on affectionate communication has suggested variables that influence what affectionate expressions are typical in various relationships, no studies have looked specifically at what influences individuals' expectations for affectionate communication. The present study examines affectionate behavior in platonic friendships and individuals' perceptions of the appropriateness and importance of affection in such friendships. It hypothesizes that when levels of relational closeness are held constant, biological sex and the sex composition of the dyad will influence actual affectionate behavior, perceived affectionate behavior, the reported appropriateness of affectionate behaviors, and the intensity of the behaviors accounted for in each effect. Substantial support for the predictions was obtained.
70 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined the relationship between verbal aggressiveness with satisfaction and interpersonal trust, and sibling satisfaction was positively related to being hurt from receiving verbally aggressive messages. But, they did not find that sibling satisfaction is positively associated with verbal aggression.
Abstract: This study focused on verbal aggression in sibling relationships. The study examined the relationship between (a) verbal aggressiveness with satisfaction and interpersonal trust, (b) the relationship between teasing and verbal aggressiveness, (c) whether people more satisfied with their siblings report that receiving verbal aggression is more personally hurtful, and (d) whether sibling sex influenced verbal aggression in the relationship. Results support the destructiveness of verbal aggression in that verbal aggressiveness was negatively related to satisfaction and trust. Teasing was found to be positively related to being verbally aggressive. Sibling satisfaction was positively related to being hurt from receiving verbally aggressive messages. Results involving sex show that women are more satisfied and report using less verbal aggression and teasing than the other sibling dyads. Conclusions, future directions, and limitations are discussed.
63 citations
TL;DR: The authors examined the influence of teaching assistant attire in the university classroom and found that significant relationships were found between instructor attire and student cognitive learning, affective learning, and ratings of instruction.
Abstract: This study examined the influence of teaching assistant attire in the university classroom. Significant relationships were found between instructor attire and student cognitive learning, affective learning, and ratings of instruction. Analysis of variance indicated significant differences in these variables by levels of teaching assistant dress. Significant negative relationship was found between instructor attire and student likelihood of misbehavior. Analysis of variance revealed that student misbehaviors were less likely for teaching assistants with high professional dress.
59 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a functional perspective on political advertising is presented, focusing on the twin grounds of policy considerations (issues; past deeds as well as promises of future accomplishments) and character (images).
Abstract: This essay articulates a functional perspective on political advertising. Because elections are fundamentally contrastive, a choice between competing candidates, it is natural for candidates to praise their own strengths (acclaiming) and to disparage their opponents' weaknesses (attacking). When subjected to such attacks, candidates may also choose to refute those accusations (defending). These three functions occur on the twin grounds of policy considerations (issues; past deeds as well as promises of future accomplishments) and on character (images). This theory of political discourse is then applied to presidential general election television spots from 1980–1996. We found that Democrats acclaimed more than they attacked, while Republicans attacked more than they acclaimed. Incumbents acclaimed more than they attacked, while challengers attacked more than they acclaimed. Defense was relatively rare, but it was used in some spots.
50 citations
TL;DR: This paper examined sex differences in powerful/powerless language (interruptions, disclaimers, hedges, and tag questions) in the small group context by juxtaposing two competing theoretical frameworks.
Abstract: This paper examines sex differences in powerful/powerless language (interruptions, disclaimers, hedges, and tag questions) in the small group context by juxtaposing two competing theoretical frameworks. A test of five contrasting hypotheses revealed little support for the dominant “dual cultures”; approach for investigating sex differences (i.e., men will use more powerful language while women will employ more powerless language). Instead results were much more supportive of a “gender similarities”; approach to understanding sex differences, showing no significant differences between women and men in their use of interruptions, hedges, and tag questions. The theoretical implications of these findings are discussed for research on sex differences, powerful/ powerless language use, and small group communication.
44 citations
TL;DR: The authors found that argumentativeness and verbal aggressiveness did not correlate meaningfully with the development and defense of one's ideas, however, the composition of the dyad in terms of argument ativeness and aggression did affect the propo...
Abstract: Many studies have been published that assume connections between argumentativeness and verbal aggressiveness, and argument behavior. However, research is limited regarding the links between these personality factors and actual communication behavior (i.e., observations of messages spontaneously exchanged between participants). To explore directly the manner in which these personality factors correspond to argument behavior, a view of argument as minimally rational discourse was adopted. This view stresses that argument constitutes a social, communicative activity and occurs in various kinds of argument structures that reflect rational logic. In this study, the relative frequency of argument development was coded from 31 friendship dyad conversations. Results revealed that argumentativeness and verbal aggressiveness did not correlate meaningfully with the development and defense of one's ideas. However, the composition of the dyad in terms of argumentativeness and verbal aggressiveness did affect the propo...
37 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors extended the work of Infante & Rancer (1982) and Infante and Wigley (1986) by assessing the existence and measurability of argumentativeness and verbal aggressiveness in adolescents.
Abstract: This investigation extends the work of Infante & Rancer (1982) and Infante & Wigley (1986) by assessing the existence and measurability of argumentativeness and verbal aggressiveness in adolescents. Results indicate that these two constructs, and the instruments used to measure them, are adaptable to adolescent populations. Specifically, the internal consistency and temporal stability of the Adolescent Argumentativeness Scale and the Adolescent Verbal Aggressiveness Scale suggest these instruments are reliable when used to assess these predispositions in adolescent populations. The instruments also demonstrated satisfactory face, concurrent, convergent, and discriminant validity. However, it appears that unlike their adult counterparts, children do not perceive argumentativeness and verbal aggressiveness as independent constructs.
TL;DR: Specific communication apprehension as measured by a modified version of the Form State scale showed moderate to large negative effects on health communication and almost no effects onhealth behaviors except diet.
Abstract: Two samples of working and college adults reported on their communication apprehension and health behaviors and communication. Specific communication apprehension as measured by a modified version of the Form State scale showed moderate to large negative effects on health communication (talking with physician, seeking health information) and almost no effects on health behaviors (tobacco use, exercise, health fairs) except diet. General trait communication apprehension as measured by the PRCA‐24 showed similar, though smaller, effects on the same variables. Results correspond to findings in other contexts where CA has negative effects when communication is a prominent feature of the interaction.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the efficacy of inoculation treatments designed to promote central versus peripheral message processing in instilling resistance to influence, taking into account message processing disposition, and tested the potential of social judgment theory to explain the cognitive process.
Abstract: This investigation attempted to provide further understanding of the inoculation model of resistance to influence. It examined the efficacy of inoculation treatments designed to promote central versus peripheral message processing in instilling resistance to influence, taking into account message processing disposition. The study also tested the potential of social judgment theory to explain the cognitive process which occurs in inoculation. A total of 790 participants took part in the investigation. The study employed three issues that represented low, moderate, and high involvement, and featured multiple inoculation and attack messages. The results indicate that inoculation treatments, using central and peripheral approaches, confer resistance to influence and, thus, imply that threat is more prominent than refutational preemption in the process of resistance. Further, the pattern of results suggest that greater receiver need for cognition enhances resistance, but only with highly involving issues. Fina...
Journal Article•
TL;DR: In this paper, a functional perspective on political advertising is presented, focusing on the twin grounds of policy considerations (issues; past deeds as well as promises of future accomplishments) and character (images).
Abstract: This essay articulates a functional perspective on political advertising. Because elections are fundamentally contrastive, a choice between competing candidates, it is natural for candidates to praise their own strengths (acclaiming) and to disparage their opponents' weaknesses (attacking). When subjected to such attacks, candidates may also choose to refute those accusations (defending). These three functions occur on the twin grounds of policy considerations (issues; past deeds as well as promises of future accomplishments) and on character (images). This theory of political discourse is then applied to presidential general election television spots from 1980–1996. We found that Democrats acclaimed more than they attacked, while Republicans attacked more than they acclaimed. Incumbents acclaimed more than they attacked, while challengers attacked more than they acclaimed. Defense was relatively rare, but it was used in some spots.
TL;DR: The authors use the rhetorical approach of generic criticism to analyze issues management campaigns, instances of public relations discourse in which an organization makes explicit efforts to influence public policy, and illustrate the genre rules that serve as the medium and outcome of this discourse.
Abstract: In this essay, I use the rhetorical approach of generic criticism to analyze issues management campaigns: instances of public relations discourse in which an organization makes explicit efforts to influence public policy. There are striking similarities among contemporary organizations’ issues management campaigns in terms of their organizing principle, situational requirements, and substantive and stylistic characteristics. Using a structurational perspective, I illustrate the genre rules (Yates & Orlikowski, 1992) that serve as the medium and outcome of this discourse. Throughout the essay, I employ the University of Minnesota's recent attempt to increase its public funding during a period of institutional transition to explicate the genre rules. This article outlines a framework for the analysis of issues management campaigns and provides a first step toward the development of a structuational theory of their genre rules. Moreover, it argues that a rhetorical approach to the study of such organizationa...
TL;DR: This paper developed an instrument measuring teacher communication concern as experienced by graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) and found that GTAs experience eight somewhat interrelated types of concern: self, task, impact, role conflict, teaching, area knowledge, procedural knowledge, and time management.
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to develop an instrument measuring teacher communication concern as experienced by graduate teaching assistants (GTAs). Two‐hundred and thirty‐three GTAs enrolled in a preservice orientation program completed two scales: a revised, expanded version of the Teacher Communication Concern scale and a 28‐item Concerns Checklist. Results indicate that GTAs experience eight somewhat interrelated types of concern: self, task, impact, role conflict, teaching, area knowledge, procedural knowledge, and time management. Furthermore, GTA variables of expected duties, prior teaching experience, newness to area, foreign born, and age are likely to predict differential types of concerns.
TL;DR: The Burning Monk series of photographs by Browne as mentioned in this paper became a frame through which many Americans perceived the events unfolding in South Vietnam during the Summer and Fall of 1963, and although these visual images engaged the American audience, their meaning and the frame they provided was the subject of a dispute within the American print media.
Abstract: On June 11, 1963, Thich Quang Duc sat in a lotus position in the middle of a busy Saigon intersection and set fire to himself. His self‐immolation was caught in an award‐winning series of photographs by Malcolm Browne. The “Burning Monk”; photographs — now recognized as some of the most powerful visual images to have come out of this period of history — became a frame through which many Americans perceived the events unfolding in South Vietnam during the Summer and Fall of 1963. This essay suggests that although these visual images engaged the American audience, their meaning — and thus the frame they provided — was the subject of a dispute within the American print media. How this frame was constructed depended largely upon whether the images were situated against a backdrop of religious oppression, or a war for freedom against the communists.
TL;DR: The Reticence Scale as mentioned in this paper is a quantitative measure of reticence, developed by Kelly, Keaten, and Begnal (1992) to evaluate the effectiveness of skills training programs such as the rhetoritherapy program.
Abstract: Currently there is no standardized, quantitative measure of the reticence construct created by Phillips (1965, 1984, 1986). Critics (e.g., Glaser, 1981) have argued that this has made it difficult to compare findings across studies of reticence as well as to establish the effectiveness of skills training programs such as the rhetoritherapy program Phillips developed for the treatment of reticence. In response to the need for a measure of reticence, Kelly, Keaten, and Begnal (1992) developed the Reticence Scale. The six dimensions of the Reticence Scale were designed to correspond to the categories of skill deficiencies detailed by Phillips in his latest work on reticence (1991). The scale is a generalized‐context (McCroskey, 1984) measure which assesses reticence in social situations. The purpose of this research is to assess the validity of the Reticence Scale. Participants, drawn from the Penn State University Reticence Program, completed the Reticence Scale, the PRCA‐24, the Willingness to Communicate ...
TL;DR: This paper examined state-receiver apprehension and uncertainty as they relate to each other and to information seeking and confirmation of relational predictions in initial interactions, and found that state receiver apprehension may possibly lead to uncertainty.
Abstract: This study examined state‐receiver apprehension and uncertainty as they relate to each other and to information seeking and confirmation of relational predictions in initial interactions. Participants consisted of 381 college students enrolled in basic communication classes at a Southwestern university. One‐hundred and ninety‐one (N = 191) pairs interacted for various time intervals and were tested at various times. When interactants had prior information about each other, state‐receiver apprehension was positively related to uncertainty and both were negatively related to information‐seeking and confirmation of relational predictions. Results also suggested that state‐receiver apprehension may possibly lead to uncertainty. Finally, a thirteen‐item test of conversational state‐receiver apprehension was developed.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors focused on the use of power, decision-making and communication styles of spouses in marital dyads, and the level of marital satisfaction of the partners in these relationships.
Abstract: This research focused on use of power, decision‐making and communication styles of spouses in marital dyads, and the level of marital satisfaction of the partners in these relationships. Drawing primarily on previous work involving Management Communication Style and decision‐making styles in organizational and instructional communication contexts, but also examining directly relevant work within the marital context, three hypotheses and five research questions were advanced. Marital satisfaction for members of 136 marital dyads was examined to determine its relationship with self‐ and spouse‐reported communication and decision‐making styles and use of various power bases in communication designed to influence marital partner. The three hypotheses were supported by the findings: 1) Self‐reported satisfaction as a member of a marital dyad was positively related to the spouse's use of a more co‐active style of communication and decision‐making; 2) Such satisfaction was positively related to one's spouse's co...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors argue that the images of nature and technology found in advertisements for the Jeep Cherokee, function as a visual metaphor for the UN discourse of sustainable development, and they interpret the sustainable development as promoting protection and comfort human development themes.
Abstract: The United Nations discourse of sustainable development attempts to “balance”; development motives with environmental awareness. This “balancing act”; weighs “development”; motives more than “sustainable”; motives because it focuses on human protection and comfort. In this essay, I interpret the UN discourse of sustainable development as promoting protection and comfort human development themes. These themes are extremely visual. Using Foss's concept of rhetorical function in visual imagery, I argue that the images of nature and technology found in advertisements for the Jeep Cherokee, function as a visual metaphor for the UN discourse of sustainable development.
TL;DR: This article explained that if a Latino night is successful it's because us as Latinos don't have a lot of options to go or places for us to go, so they go there, talk in Spanish, not worry about it, drink, have fun, do it all in a language they feel more comfortable with.
Abstract: It's something they can relate to. You know, assimilate. They go there, talk in Spanish, not worry about it, drink, have fun, do it all in a language they're accustomed to, or at least with people they feel more comfortable with. I guess that's why a lot of them come Monday nights from these distances. That's what I was trying to explain to Chris. If you have a Latino night it's going to be successful because us as Latinos don't have a lot of options for us to go or places for us to go.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the relationship between fathers' verbal aggressiveness and their perceptions of the appropriateness and effectiveness of selected tactics for interacting with oppositional sons, and found that fathers' perceptions of their own aggressiveness was in large part a function of their level of trait verbal aggression.
Abstract: Previous research demonstrated that fathers’ trait verbal aggressiveness was (1) predictive of their adult sons’ perceptions of the sarcasm, criticism, and overall aggressiveness contained in fathers’ messages, and (2) inversely related to the appropriateness and effectiveness of fathers’ plans for dealing with an oppositional son. The present study extended this research by examining the relationship between fathers’ verbal aggressiveness and their perceptions of the appropriateness and effectiveness of selected tactics for interacting with oppositional sons. Overall, results indicated that fathers’ perceptions of the appropriateness and effectiveness of tactics was in large part a function of their level of trait verbal aggressiveness. Specifically, fathers’ trait verbal aggressiveness was (1) negatively related to perceptions of appropriateness and effectiveness of supportive tactics and (2) positively related to perceptions of the appropriateness and effectiveness of coercive tactics. Implications for...
TL;DR: Face‐to‐face interviews with 142 randomly selected, older dialysis patients to determine if they believed it was appropriate to inform them of their medical condition, discuss treatment alternatives, and involve them in medical decision making confirmed the expectation that most such individuals believe it is appropriate to be informed about their condition and options.
Abstract: Communication competence may play an important role in interactions between health care providers and patients. Because exactly what constitutes effective and appropriate communication in conversations with seriously ill, older adults is not clear, it is difficult to know haw such conversations can be improved. In this study we conducted face‐to‐face interviews with 142 randomly selected, older dialysis patients to determine if they believed it was appropriate to inform them of their medical condition, discuss treatment alternatives, and involve them in medical decision making. Results confirmed the expectation that most such individuals believe it is appropriate to be informed about their condition and options, but do not believe it is appropriate to involve them in medical decision making. Respondents who were older, less educated, and who had diminished cognitive capacity perceived involvement as particularly inappropriate. Results suggest that many seriously ill, older adults may have communication be...
Journal Article•
TL;DR: The authors examined the influence of sensitivity to the expression of others and ability to modify one's self-presentation on responses to refused requests when specific types of obstacles are stated in a refusal.
Abstract: The present analysis examines the influence that the individual difference variables sensitivity to the expression of others and ability to modify one's self‐presentation exert on responses to refused requests when specific types of obstacles are stated in a refusal. Results suggest that requesters who are more sensitive to the expression of others and have greater ability to adapt self‐presentation are more likely to engage in further persuasion and less likely to engage in facework when unwillingness obstacles are encountered than when imposition or inability obstacles occur.
TL;DR: This article found that the status of the media figure is altered as they appear as friends, collaborators or associates rather than in their role as celebrity in their own life scripts, and that media becomes a predominant force within the individual's dream world.
Abstract: Questionnaires and dream reports of 241 respondents were analyzed for the presence of media figures in their dreams. The findings suggest that we do not enter television scripts in our dreams, but incorporate media figures into our own life scripts. In their dreams respondents indicate the status of the media figure is altered as they appear as friends, collaborators or associates rather than in their role as celebrity. Dreams and mass media are parallel imaginary social worlds that sometimes crisscross, but are not so interrelated or intertwined that media becomes a predominant force within the individual's dream world.
TL;DR: The strength or weakness of the nervous system determines, in part, the nature of human responses to aversive external stimuli as discussed by the authors, as demonstrated by several theorists and researchers, are implicated in the development of social anxiety traits such as communication apprehension.
Abstract: The strength or weakness of the nervous system determines, in part, the nature of human responses to aversive external stimuli. Weak nervous systems, as demonstrated by several theorists and researchers, are implicated in the development of social anxiety traits such as communication apprehension. Mechanisms underlying implicit memory are elaborated and the stability of reconstructed emotional memories of public speaking state anxiety during performance is linked to public speaking apprehension.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined attachment styles and disengagement strategies used to end romantic relationships for 213 college students and predicted differences between attributions about the cause of the breakup and who initiated the breakup.
Abstract: This study examined attachment styles and disengagement strategies used to end romantic relationships for 213 college students. The research predicted differences between attributions about the cause of the breakup and who initiated the breakup. The study also predicted differences in reports about the use of disengagement strategies, depending upon a person's attachment style and whom they attributed as the initiator of the breakup. People more frequently attributed the cause of breakups to situational factors than to the other person; and least frequently, to self. Persons who perceived they caused the breakup more frequently perceived they also initiated the breakup. Some of the hypothesized differences in reports about the use of disengagement strategies for persons with different attachment styles and different attributions of who initiated the breakup were observed for positive‐tone, behavioral de‐escalation, and negative identity management strategies. Leniency in self‐attributions was detected in ...