Affirming and Nonaffirming Style, Dyad Sex, and the Perception of Argumentation and Verbal Aggression in an Interpersonal Dispute

Abstract

This study exmnined twofactors-+firmin@nafiming style and dyad sex40 determine ifthey influence perceptions of w b a l aggression and argumentation behavior m an interpersonal dispute. Participants &a play script that contained messages exchanged between two individuals engaged in a conflict episode. All statements were argumentative in nature (i,e,, they attacked the adversary's position on an issue) exceptfor m e statements that contained w b a l aggression (i.e., they attacked the adversay's self-concept). The individuals communicated with either an afirming (relared, friendly, attentive) or a nonnffinning (tense, unfriendly, inattentive) style. The sex of the dyad (all male, all femnle) UMS also manipulated. Fewer mistakes were mnde in the perception of whl aggrrssion in the conflict when the individuals communicated w'th an afirming rather than a nonafirming style. More wbally aggressiw but less argumentatiw conduct wm perceiwd when the individuals communicated w'th a nonafirming style. Participants percmxd more w h U y aggressiw behavior than actually existed when the dyad composition wasfemale.A ggressive communication has been the subject of attention in the communication discipline for more than a dozen years. Infante's (1987) model posits that aggressive communication is controlled by a cluster of four communication traits that interact with environmental factors to energize message behavior. Two of these traits are considered constructive (assertiveness and argumentativeness), and two are considered destructive (hostility and verbal aggressiveness). Assertiveness is the trait to be dominant, forceful, and ascendant interpersonally. Argumentativeness involves defending positions on controversial issues while attacking the positions that other people take on the issues. Hostility is the disposition to use symbols to express irritability, resentment, negativity, and suspicion. Verbal aggressiveness entails attacking a person's selfDominic A. JnJkte is professor emeritus of communication studies at Kent State University. Andrew S. Racer is associate professor of communication at the University of Akron. Felecia E Jordan is associate professor of communication at Florida State University.

Words as Weapons?When Do They Wound? Investigations of Harmful Speech

“…Racist speech is one type of a larger genre of verbally disturbing communication (sexism, ageism, etc.). Most research at this point has focused on interpersonal verbal aggression (e.g., Infante et al, 1990Infante et al, ,1996; Rudd, Burant, & Beatty, 1994; Sabourin et al, 1993) as opposed to intergroup aggression (e.g., Kinney, 1996). Future communication work may benefit from looking at both intergroup and interpersonal dynamics, as well as spanning the gulf between separate literatures and examining their interrelationships.…”

“…It is here that utterances degrading some aspect of a person's identity have been examined as one of many types of aggression. Infante and Wigley (1986) contend that verbal aggression is worthy of study in its own right and have initiated a line of research that focuses on the types of verbally aggressive messages in interpersonal relationships, their causes and their consequences (e.g., Infante, 1987;Infante, Chandler, Rudd, & Shannon, 1990;Infante, Rancer, & Jordan, 1996). Infante's (1981) initial work investigated the relationship between argumentativeness (Infante & Rancer, 1982) and verbal aggression, demonstrating that a lack of argumentation skill by one or both of the partners often resulted in verbal aggression.…”

Improve the Communication, Decrease the Distance: The Investigation into Problematic Communication and Delays in Inter-Hospital Transfer of Rural Trauma Patients

“…One important goal of communication competency is the utlization of an affirming communication style which has been shown to have positive outcomes in both males and females (Infante, Rancer, & Jordan, 1996), as an appropriate conflict style from objective observers (Rancer, Jordan-Jackson, & Infante, 2003), as well as an effective diffusion technique for aggressive patients (Avtgis & Madlock, 2008). More recently, Rossi et al (2009) reported that trauma team members attending communication training showed greater post training knowledge of affiriming communiation, increased perception of the value of affirming communication, and an intent to use within their respective facilities, the affirming communication skills taught in the training.…”

Emphasizing “Communication” in Health Communication

“…Verbal aggression, for example, has been associated with individual distress (Kinney, 1994), social skills' deficits have been found to relate to depression (Segrin, 1992) and psychosocial problems (Segrin & Flora, 2000), and gaps in argumentative skills form a relevant issue associated with interspousal violence (Infante, Chandler, & Rudd, 1989) and interpersonal disputes (Infante, Rancer, & Jordan, 1996). On the other hand, communication competence contributes to the availability of and satisfaction with one's social support (Query, Parry, & Flint, 1992).…”