The effects of power and message variables on compliance

It has long been recognized in the nonverbal communication literature that individual differences in extraversion are expected to be most clearly evident in expressive forms of nonverbal behavior. Although several studies designed to examine the correlation between extraversion and nonverbal behavior have been conducted, most attempts to summarize these studies reflect the inconsistent nature of the research findings. Indeed, correlations range from ?.36 to .73. The extant literature summaries are limited to narrative reviews, however, which tend to be highly selective. The purpose of this study was to meta‐analyze the relevant studies. Results indicated that the mean correlation coefficient weighted for sample size was .13 for the entire sample of studies. Although 63% of the variance was attributable to sampling error, the distribution of correlations was heterogeneous. The remaining variance was due to two methodological artifacts: sample size and the number of nonverbal behaviors coded. For example, hierarchical breakdowns by moderator indicated that the mean correlation was .50 for highly focused studies—those in which researchers concentrated on a few behaviors and limited coding to 40 or fewer subjects. A cognitive‐overload model for these findings is offered and corroborated by findings from other research domains. Implications for communication research and theory are discussed. In addition to clarifying the empirical relationship between extraversion and nonverbal behavior, the contributions of this study reside, in part, in its implications for large samples and large numbers of nonverbal behaviors coded in research and for meta‐analyses of such research literatures.     

The Relationships Among Perfectionism,Communication Apprehension,and Temperament

This study investigated the relationships among perfectionism, communication apprehension (CA), and temperament. Perfectionism is a multidimensional construct that includes an adaptive factor (i.e., having high standards for oneself) and a maladaptive factor (i.e., being unable to feel accomplishment in reaching excessively high standards; Flett & Hewitt, 2002 Flett , G. L. , & Hewitt , P. L. ( 2002 ). Perfectionism and maladjustment: An overview of theoretical, definitional, and treatment issues . In G. L. Flett , & P. L. Hewitt (Eds.), Perfectionism: Theory, research, and treatment (pp. 5 – 32 ). Washington , D.C. : American Psychological Association .[Crossref] , [Google Scholar]). Results revealed a negative relationship between adaptive perfectionism and CA, and a positive relationship between maladaptive perfectionism and CA. Furthermore, adaptive perfectionism was found to be positively related to extraversion and negatively related to neuroticism and psychoticism, whereas maladaptive perfectionism was found to be positively related to neuroticism and negatively related to extraversion.     

The Relationship Between Personality Temperament,Communication Reticence,and Fear of Negative Evaluation

This study examined the influence and relationships of the Big Five personality variables of extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability (neuroticism), and openness to experience on communication reticence and fear of negative evaluation (FNE). Undergraduates from (N = 336) basic communication or psychology courses completed self-report measures for these variables. Structural equation modeling indicated that only one personality dimension, extraversion, directly predicted reticence, whereas neuroticism was positively related to FNE, and openness was a negatively associated predictor of FNE. The model also showed a strong relationship between FNE and reticence, indicating that FNE moderated the relationship between two of the five personality variables (i.e., openness and neuroticism) and reticence.     

Approaching and avoiding arguments: The role of epistemological beliefs, need for cognition, and extraverted personality traits

Because argumentation may promote deeper processing of content, this study examined factors affecting students’ dispositions to engage in argument, specifically epistemological beliefs, need for cognition, and extraversion (assertiveness and warmth). An instrument developed by [Infante and Rancer, 1982] was used to measure dispositions to approach or avoid arguments. Subjects were 238 undergraduates who completed surveys of the relevant constructs. Contrary to expectation that epistemological beliefs would predict the approach component by affecting the perceived usefulness of argumentation, regression analysis indicated that epistemological beliefs instead predicted the avoidance component (as did a desire to maintain warm relationships). Need for cognition predicted the approach component, whereas assertiveness predicted both. The need to better understand why some students avoid arguments is discussed.