Effects of role and gender mix on verbal communication modes.

Abstract

Undergraduates viewed a videotape of role-played problem vignettes and responded as though they were in face-to-face contact with the speakers. Half of the subjects took the role of counselor and half the role of friend. Written responses were coded using a system that included most of the response modes emphasized in contemporary models of counseling. Analyses of covariance indicated that students serving as friends made fewer reflections and gave more advice than those serving as counselors. Female stimuli elicited more advice and information-seeking questions than male stimuli, while male stimuli elicited more positive feedback than female stimuli. Compared to males, females used more interrogative interpretations. Same-sex pairings elicited more interpretation than opposite-sex pairings, and more negative feedback was given to same-sex stimuli under friend conditions and to opposite-sex stimuli under counselor conditions. Discussion focused on natural verbal helping repertoires, responsivity to situational cues, and pervasiveness of sex role stereotypes.

The helping process in couples

“…This pattern is broadly similar to that found in other studies of how untrained helpers communicate (Haccoun et al, 1976;Reisman & Yamokoski, 1974;Whalen & Flowers, 1977), although disparities in coding systems make comparisons difficult. In contrast, trained helpers tend to use fewer questions and advisements, and more reflections (Elliott, 1979;Shiffman, 1981), although this pattern depends to some extent on the helper's theoretical orientation (Stiles, 1979).…”

“…The absence of significant sex differences in couples' informal helping is surprising, and contrasts both with common sex-role stereotypes and the findings of previous analogue studies of friends and acquaintances (Haccoun et al, 1976;Whalen & Flowers, 1977). The sex differences in these studies may be due to the lesser validity of their experimental procedures, in that hypothetical rather than actual responses may be more prone to reflect stereotypes.…”

Verbal response modes and dimensions of interpersonal roles: A method of discourse analysis.

“…Verbal response mode use has been shown to reflect many important aspects of interpersonal relationships. Mode use varies with the relative position of dyad members in a business hierarchy (Slobin, Miller, & Porter, 1968); with seeking or avoiding approval from peers (Rosenfeld, 1966); with friend versus counselor role (Whalen & Flowers, 1977); with teacher versus student role (Sinclair & Coulthard, 1974;Stiles, Waszak, & Barton, in press); with physician versus patient role (Bain, 1976;Davis, 1968Davis, , 1971Freemon, Negrete, Davis, & Korsch, 1971; Stiles, Putnam, Wolf, & James, Note 1); with gender of communicator and recipient (De La Cour, 1977;Whalen & Flowers, 1977); with the wish of the listener to speak or of the talker for feedback (Dittman & Llewelyn, 1968; and with the degree of disclosure by the other dyad member (C) (R) (Kohen, 1975). Verbal response modes have been strongly associated with many aspects of the process of psychotherapy (see reviews by Goodman & Dooley, 1976;Marsden, 1971;Meltzoff & Kornreich, 1970).…”

The Therapeutic Value of Friendship Between Women

“…Studies comparing the quality and verbal process of friendship and therapy suggest that while friendship may have a character similar to therapy, (Shapiro, Krauss, & Truax, 1969;Armstrong, 1969) the qualities contributing to the similarities are present to a greater degree in therapy than in friendship (Martin, Carkhuff, & Berenson, 1966;Reisrnan & Yamokoski, 1974;Whalen & Flowers, 1977). However, these studies assumed that the friendships used in the studies were similar in strength.…”