J. B. Rotter's internal-external scale has been widely used as a measure of the degree to which an individual believes he can control the outcome of events. When a revised form of the Rotter scale was subjected to factor analysis, with Rotter's 29 forced-choice items presented as 58 statements to be evaluated along semantic differential scales,…

Outlines conceptual and operational definitions that distinguish between the control movements and control patterns of domineeringness and dominance. The evidence suggests that (1) domineeringness and dominance are, in actuality, different phenomena and (2) different patterns of role strain, system satisfaction, and interaction styles are…

The willingness to manipulate others has been called Machiavellianism. The purpose of the present study was to acquire a preliminary answer to the question: what verbal communicative strategies do people with high Machiavellian characteristics employ which permit them to influence and control the group process? (Author)

The concepts of credibility, attraction, power, and "homophily" (degree to which source and receiver are similar in certain attributes) have been investigated as independent and unrelated variables in the communication process. The authors seek to establish the relationship of these variables as subdivisions of the overriding concept…

Examines and explains relational control interaction patterns in two decision-making groups and two women's consciousness-raising groups. Analyzes the interaction data using a Markov model and tracking the control dimension of relationships over time. (JMF)

The investigators assume that in a social power relationship, where one person has the power to reward or punish another for the latter's behavior, the social inferior will tend to conceal from a superior information he possesses or attitudes he holds which, if shared, might cause the superior to censure the inferior. To test this hypothesis, two…

This paper reports on the effects of four forms of kinesic communication and three forms of verbal communication on leadership perception in a small group setting. Forty-eight college age discussants were observed in groups of four during twelve 30-minute sessions. Permitted only visual input, eleven previously trained observers recorded four…

Conflict is defined by the authors as a struggle over scarce status, power, and resources. They discuss the role of communication as one of the several strategies leading to conflict and as a potential strategy leading to conflict resolution. First, there is tacit communication, wherein the participants are engaged not in face-to-face interactions…

Relational communication refers to the control or dominance aspects of message exchange in dyads--distinguishing it from the report or referential aspects of communication. In relational communicational analysis, messages as transactions are emphasized; major theoretical concepts which emerge are symmetry, transitoriness, and complementarity of…

Interaction theory has not been applied to interpersonal communication because the Western scientific model requires that variables be consciously apparent. A simple model of sending and receiving is not adequate to explain the complex nature of human communication, however. The dyadic pattern of interrelationship may be expanded to reflect the…