Dominance theory

Question 1

Outline

Answer 1

in mixed sex conversations men are more likely to interrupt than women

Question 2

Zimmerman & West (1975) Method

Answer 2

recorded small sample of conversation at the Santa Barbara campus of the University of California. The participants were white, middle class and under 35 and they produced 31 segments of conversation

Question 3

Results

Answer 3

in 11 conversations between men and women, men used 46 interruptions whilst women only two. Therefore they are trying to dominate

Question 4

Beattie argues

Answer 4

there may be one voluble male that has a disproportional effect on the total and interruptions can reflect interest and involvement.

Question 5

Dale Spender

Answer 5

claims that it is especially difficult to challenge this power system, since the way that we think of the world if part of, and reinforces this male power

Question 6

Pamela Fishman: Interaction: the work women do (1983)

Answer 6

conversation between the sexes sometimes fails, not because of anything inherent in the way women talk, but because of how men respond or don’t respond. Also, men speak on average or twice as long as women