Reports three studies suggesting that speech rate perception is influenced by vocal frequency and, to some extent, by intensity, and that these relationships are not materially altered by the speakers' gender. (JAD)

Determines the effects of vocal cues on judgments of dominance in an interpersonal influence context. Indicates that mean amplitude and amplitude standard deviation were positively associated with dominance judgments, whereas speech rate was negatively associated with dominance judgments. Finds that mean fundamental frequency was positively…

Examines how evaluator sex, target responsibility and effort, and advice content influenced evaluations of advice given bluntly, with aggravating facework, or with mitigating facework. Notes advice was described as directed to a student upset about failing an exam. Finds that facework had a substantial main effect on evaluations of advice, with…

Examines the relationship of interpersonal solidarity to various aspects of idiomatic communication in the relational cultures of college student friends. Finds that idiomatic communication is prevalent and parallels the development of intimacy in friendship. Describes functions, types, and gender differences in idioms and their correlations with…

Finds that exposure to graphic photographs of worms taken from a horror film increased children's enjoyment of the horror movie segment and reduced fear reactions to the scene. Shows that exposure to a live earthworm was effective in reducing fear reactions to the movie only among boys but did alter children's affective reactions to and judgments…

Examines whether individuals can generate memory structures for increasingly intimate relationships; agree on the rank ordering of expected actions; distinguish between perceived typicality of such actions and how necessary the behaviors are for a relationship to develop; and segment prototypical scenes of developing relationships in a…

Develops questions, hypotheses, and models to test (1) the effect of gender and knowledge of relational stage and relationship type on prediction of next-occurring actions in development of a romance between undergraduate students; and (2) use of compliance-gaining strategies intended to advance a relationship to the next stage. Reveals effects…

Examines two factors (affirming/nonaffirming style and dyad sex) to determine if they influence perceptions of verbal aggression and argumentation behavior in an interpersonal dispute. Finds that fewer mistakes were made in the perception of verbal aggression in the conflict when they communicated with an affirming rather than a nonaffirming…

Discusses efforts to develop and validate an instrument that could be used to ascertain the motives individuals have for interpersonal communication. Results indicate six prominent motives, namely: (1) pleasure, (2) affection, (3) inclusion, (4) escape, (5) relaxation, and (6) control. (JAD)

Examines verbal influence behavior during couples' disagreements. Finds the most frequently used strategies are content validation, self-assertions, and other accusations. Finds less use of content invalidation, self-defense, and other-support. Analyzes male/female differences in persuasive tactics. Finds interaction patterns are predominantly…

Examines self-disclosure as both a personality trait and an interaction process. Finds little support for individual differences in self-disclosure--individuals were inconsistent in how much they self-disclosed to others and in how much self-disclosure they elicited from others. Finds no sex differences in self-disclosure. Finds qualified support…

Presents a language approach to outgroup homogeneity and discrimination between gender groups. Finds outgroup discrimination was confined to female respondents; outgroup discrimination resulted more from repetition of biased statements than from differential abstraction; and discrimination was strongest for topics for which the most distinctive…

Compares story receipt and story sequencing variables of males and females in dyadic conversations. Significant differences exist in the amount of time spent as story recipients and with regard to two story sequencing devices--embedded repeat and marked repeat. No differences are noted in the number of sequential stories told. (JMF)

Suggests that claims of sex differences in interruption behavior should not be uncritically accepted. Examines frequency of interruption in fourth-grade, ninth-grade, and college students. Finds that males did not interrupt females any more than females interrupted males. (RS)

Examines 620 metaphorical conflict expressions generated by 169 participants, employed or with work experience. Indicates that participants predominately used "conflict is impotence" schemas. Finds no sex differences in either schemas or linguistic analyses of metaphorical expressions. Reports greater frequency and intensity of conflicts in family…