Study Questions Exam #2 Flashcards
Discuss the logic behind Cappella & Greene’s discrepancy-arousal model, including the links among the various processes. Do not just draw the graph. What apparent problem with the intimacy-arousal model was the discrepancy-arousal model designed to correct?
The discrepancy-arousal model emphasized arousal alone as the critical mediator of nonverbal adjustments. Cappella & Greene argued that during interaction, adjustments happen so quickly that there is no time for a labeling or attribution process to mediate the behavioral changes. Arousal alone could be activated rapidly. As discrepancy between expected and actual level of involvement increases, so does arousal. Link is relationship between intensity of arousal and person’s resulting affect. Designed to address the problem that individuals reciprocated in the intimacy-arousal model and the confederates had to act in a relatively extreme manner
Discuss the basic two criticisms of the early theories of interactive behavior as comprehensive explanations of nonverbal exchange.
All theories were reactive in nature and they were all affect driven.
Discuss how the functional model of nonverbal communication changed the approach to explaining the give-and-take of nonverbal behavior in interactions.
Interactive behavior is pragmatic. Nonverbal behavior can serve a variety of purposes in a variety of settings. We not only react to our partner, but we may also initiate certain patterns of behavior to influence the conversation or social interaction in our favor. The pursuit of a goal may also require a behavior that is not a result of the underlying affect of a person. Theory moves away from simply predicting and compensating. Emphasizes utility of nonverbal behavior to provide information, regulate interaction, express intimacy, exercise influence and manage impressions
Discuss the context of theory and research (from Patterson 2001 (7)) leading to the development of the parallel process model. What was the rationale underlying the development of the parallel process model of nonverbal communication.
emphasizes the interdependence of behavioral and person perception processes from a functional perspective on social interaction. The form and outcome of the behavioral (encoding) and person perception (decoding) processes are a product of three related elements, including: determinants, the social environment, and cognitive-affective mediators. In this model, the determinants (biology, culture, gender, and personality), in combination with the partner and setting, influence interpersonal expectancies, dispositions, goals, affect, and cognitive resources. In turn, these mediators constrain the attention and cognitive effort applied to behavior management and person perception. In general, fewer cognitive resources and decreased effort will have less effect on the outcome of automatic behavioral (e.g., scripts) and person perception (e.g., impressions based on appearance and nonverbal cues) processes than on more demanding ones. The utility of this theory in integrating behavioral and person perception processes into a single system is discussed.
Discuss the relationship between social judgement and behavioral tracks in the parallel process model and how that may be affected by an individual’s goals in an interaction.
Effects of Biology, culture, gender, and personality predispose us to communicate in a relatively consistent fashion over time. Social judgments happen outside of awareness. Rapid judgments from “thin slices of behavior” are likely to be accurate.
Why does the application of more cognitive resources (i.e. greater cognitive effort) frequently not improve the outcome for the behavioral and person perception processes?
When additional reflection is needed in making a judgment, it is only possible when there are sufficient cognitive resources available. If a person is distracted, worried, tired, or investing considerable effort in managing behavior, then corrections to an initial judgment are unlikely. Thus, the initial automatic judgment will dominate
Discuss the general logic underlying an evolutionary explanation for communication patterns that may have been selected over time
the sending and receiving of NVC requires an appropriate developmental stage and eliciting context. Universal patterns are reinforced by cultural norms. Hardwire for nurturing helpless infants, had to develop way of communication. Whatever genetic characteristics are advantageous for survival and reproduction will be more densely represented in later generations.
Floyd’s chapter discusses several different principles of the evolutionary approach to NVC. Identify and briefly discuss three of them
- ) Adaptations deal with proximal and ultimate levels of causation.
- Proximal cause is condition(s) that appear to facilitate behavior in specific time, place and manner in which it occurred. Ultimate cause represents the original of higher-order cause of behavior. Evolutionary approach is primarily concerned with identifying ultimate causes that provide insight to environmental challenges that adaptations evolved to meet. - ) Adaptations need not operate at a conscious level
- people are often unaware of what the ultimate cause might be or how they might be operating more through proximal causes. It is not problematic that ultimate causes operate outside of conscious awareness. Evolutionary approach does not require individuals to be aware of ultimate causes of behavior in order for the ultimate causes to be operative. - ) Adaptations need not be adaptive for modern living.
- When thinking about modern environments, it can be difficult to understand how adaptations are beneficial. Focus more on physical and psychological traits that are adaptive. some traits that were adaptive became useless or maladaptive over time.
From an evolutionary perspective, discuss typical male preferences in mate selection and how these preferences may promote survival of the species
Typically, males prefer mates that are younger; have a waste:hip ratio of .7; posess clear skin, shiny hair, nails (well groomed?); have attractive faces (average is considered more attractive); Lively behavior; large breasts. The majority of these are used to tell if a woman is suitable to bear children (wide hips, large breasts for breast feeding, are in general healthy and attractive).
From an evolutionary perspective, discuss typical female preferences in mate selection and how these preferences may promote survival of the species
Typically, females prefer mates that are older, taller, more muscular, are moderately more dominant, have a waste:hip ratio of about 1 and have resources. This is because typically (at least in the past) women have relied on more successful men to have as fathers as a way to insure the support of themselves and their child.
Discuss the general contrast between individualistic and collectivistic cultures. What effect does this contrast have on nonverbal communication and why?
In a culture that values collectivism, groups are considered to be more important than the individual, and one often finds that individuals tend to identify more with the groups they are a part of than as an individual.
In a culture that values individualism, there exists a focus on the self, and what is important about the self. Values are placed highly on independence, competition, and being different.
These contrasts are shown in nonverbal communication as a collectivist would want to be more a part of a group and will use their nonverbal behaviors to show that while an individualist will use their NVC to distinguish themselves and stand out from the crowd. This is due to the fact of the different values of the cultures.
Discuss the power-distance dimension of culture and the factors that seem to affect the power-distance level in a particular society. how does power-distance affect nonverbal communication and why?
Power-Distance is the inequality of power in culture. Having a low power distance means that people are closer to their superiors and are, in general, not afraid to approach them and talk to them, and they are not made nervous by their presence. Having a high power distance means that people are further away from their superiors and must be sure to treat all of their superiors with the amount of respect they deserve as is dictated by the culture. This affects NVC as someone in a high power distance is less likely to look at their superiors in the eyes, and are more likely to show submissive behaviors when dealing with superiors in contrast to someone in a low power distance.
Discuss the effect of high-context versus low-context in cross-cultural comparisons of nonverbal communication
Low-context cultures are those in which most information is transmitted in a relatively direct and explicit fashion through language. In contrast, high-context cultures, the meaning is implicit, contained in the situation and the subtle nonverbal behaviors of individuals. Receivers of messages attend closely to the NVC in high-context than those in low-context.
Describe the contrasting reactions of Japanese and American pedestrians found in the Patterson et al. (2007) article. Briefly discuss the possible reasons behind the Japanese patterns.
in the setting of the experiment for Patterson, the Japanese were less responsive to looks, smiles, and greetings than Americans. This is due to the different cultural norms of the societies. For example in America one would greet someone else, potentially even if they didn’t know them, but in Japan you show respect and keep your head down.
Describe briefly some of the patterns characteristic of gender differences in nonverbal communication. Compare and Contrast two distinctly different explanations for gender differences in decoding.
In general, women are typically better than men at communicating and interpreting feelings though NVC. That being said, their reactions are typically easier to read. However, men typically are unable to communicate and interpret feelings/emotions through NVC and thus their reactions are harder to read.
