This study examines perceptions of argumentative and verbally aggressive conduct, and also five relationship-outcome factors contingent upon dyad sex and communicator style. Participants viewed one of four videos that manipulated the sex and the communicator style of a dyad in an interpersonal dispute. Significant main effects were observed for…

Explores how topics of arguments relate to argumentativeness among college students. Finds that individuals reported greater frequency of advocacy than refutative behavior during arguments and that high argumentatives engaged in more advocacy and refutation than moderates or lows. Suggests implications to the interactionist approach to the study…

Finds that the initiators of verbal aggression in a discussion were seen by observers as less credible and had fewer valid arguments credited to them, whereas targets of verbal aggression were seen as more credible and were credited with more valid arguments when they reciprocated a level of verbal aggression. (SR)

Found that (1) motivation to argue is heightened when high argumentatives expect to encounter a person who also enjoys arguing; and (2) low argumentatives have less motivation to argue regardless of the adversary. (PD)

Speakers' prespeech perceptions were elicited with reference to expected credibility, the consequences of delivering the speech, speech topic preferences, and message strategy intentions. Relationships are hypothesized among prespeech perceptions and trait and state speech anxiety. (JF)

Supported the hypothesis that the more employees perceive their supervisors as high in argumentativeness and low in verbal aggressiveness, the more the subordinates also will be argumentative (i.e., assertive) and have job satisfaction. (PD)

Presents and tests the verbal-plan approach as a basis for predicting verbal behavior. (Defines verbal plan as "what an individual intends to say in a specific situation or a general situation.") (PD)

Explores methods of developing resistance to persuasion by extending the principles and techniques of attitude change. Implications for future research are noted. (MH)

Reviews personality research conflict between trait and situationist positions because of its relevance to communication trait research. Reports results of a study based on a recent theory of argumentativeness that is inherently interactionist. Suggests the possible value of interactionist approaches to communication study, as the hypotheses…

Discusses theory that an attitude toward a proposed change in policy can be predicted from attitudes toward the consequences associated with the change. (ML)

A study examined the influence of physical attractiveness and trait argumentativeness as predictors of responses to an argumentative situation. Subjects, 152 college students identified as either high or low in trait argumentativeness, were randomly assigned to one of two treatment conditions: attractive or unattractive anticipated adversary. A…

Explores the relationship between arguing and verbal aggression and the benefits accruing from argumentativeness. Found that students who are highly argumentative are not easily provoked to using verbal aggression in an argument, supporting the view that verbal aggression often stems from a lack of skill in arguing. (PD)

Investigates interspousal violence using a model of interpersonal violence derived from the aggression literature. Finds that destructive forms of communication such as verbal aggressiveness lead to physical violence, whereas constructive forms such as argumentativeness reduce the chance of escalation to physical aggression. (SR)

Results revealed that inducing women to be more argumentative had a favorable effect on their credibility. (PD)