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TheoryCh7SlidesEVTF2020.pptxExpectancy Violations Theory of Judee Burgoon
7
A First Look at
Communication Theory
Em Griffin
Andrew Ledbetter Glenn Sparks
10th edition
Copyright © 2019 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
Copyright © 2019 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
Expectancy Violations Theory
Expectation of Personal Space in the Classroom
Personal Space Expectations: Conform or Deviate?
An Applied Test of the Original Model
A Convoluted Model Becomes an Elegant Theory
Interaction Adaptation—Adjusting Expectations
Critique: A Well-Regarded Work in Progress
Slide 2
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Overall Idea of the ORIGINAL Theory:
We all have expectations for how things should happen in our interactions with others, especially in terms of ”proxemic behavior”
AKA Personal Space Expectations
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Remember – it was updated later, and has taken about 40 years to get to its current state!
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Personal Space Expectations
Depends on cultural norms and individual preferences
Saudi Arabia (closer means more honest) vs. U.S. (closer can feel uncomfortable).
Slide 4
Personal space: Invisible, variable, volume of space surrounding an individual that defines his or her preferred distance from others (Burgoon)
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People expected to stand closer in Saudi Arabia than in US. In Saudi Arabia, if you can’t smell someone’s breath, you cannot trust them.
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Personal Space Expectations: Conform or Deviate?
Proxemics: Study of people’s use of space; a special elaboration of culture
Hall’s 4 Proxemic Zones (U.S.A):
Intimate distance (0 to 18 in.)
Personal distance (18 in. to 4 feet)
Social distance (4 to 12 feet)
Public distance (12+ feet)
Most interpretation of space is subconscious (Edward Hall)
Slide 5
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EX: Personal Space Expectations in the Classroom
Students and teachers have expectations about personal space in the classroom (book example)
Slide 6
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ALL FOUR VIOLATED EXPECTATIONS for standing distance between a student and a teacher.
ANDRE asked for a letter of Recommendation for a scholarship
DAWN asked to have lunch the next day
Belinda asked for help on a term paper for another professor’s class
Charlie encouraged professor to play water polo with guys from his house (something the professor had done before).
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Original EVT Examples
We have expectations for . . .
How close to stand to next someone, when it’s only you and them on the elevator
How close to stand when talking to someone
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A certain distance should be maintained between a professor and a student (book example)
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Personal Space Expectations: Conform or Deviate?
Suggests that, under some circumstances, violating social norms and personal expectations can be a good thing!
Slide 8
Original model called: Nonverbal expectancy violations model (Judy Burgoon)
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A good thing: “a superior strategy to conformity”
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The Original Model
Original model included a “threat threshold”
If someone is too far into our ”intimate space,” it can cause a flight or fight response
We judge them negatively
Makes us uncomfortable
Slide 9
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DEF Threat threshold : Outer boundary of our intimate space
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The Original Model
Original model also included “arousal”
Happens when “threat threshold” is violated
We think about our relationship and past interactions with that person.
Influences how we respond
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PROBLEMS with the original model:
It was only accurate in ONE out of the three examples!
(See next slide)
So Burgoon had to Fix, Update, & Adapt the theory!
Predictive ability not great
Book EX: Did NOT predict all of Em’s responses to violations
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Applied Test of the Original Model (Book example)
Andre (wrong prediction):
Got in Em’s face; Em still wrote the letter
Belinda (correct prediction):
Normal distance, but negative perceptions of her as a student. Em Denied request for help
Charlie (wrong prediction)
Stood far enough away, but Em still turned down invite
Dawn (wrong prediction)
Invite from across the room = impersonal. Still had lunch
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NEWEST version of EVT is an example of continually revising ideas; failure can lead to success
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A Convoluted Model Becomes an Elegant Theory
When studies did not show support for these two ideas, she abandoned them:
Threat threshold
Arousal
Worked on it for 4+ decades!
Slide 13
How did Burgoon update the the theory?
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Why “ELEGANT”? It suggests “gracefully concise and simple, as well as admirably succinct”.
13
The most current version of the Theory is called: Expectancy violations theory (EVT)
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The updated theory is applied in more contexts
Other nonverbals: Facial expressions, eye contact, touch, leaning
Emotional, marital, intercultural comm.
No longer just nonverbal, proxemic violations.
Current version helps explain expectancy violations related to:
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3 Core Concepts of EVT
Expectancy
Violation Valence
Communicator Reward Valence
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1. What is an Expectancy?
Def: What people predict will happen
Slide 17
We develop expectations for interactions based on:
Context
Relationship
Communicator characteristics
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Expectancies: Context
Based on:
Cultural norms:
EX: Saudi Arabia vs. U.S
Setting:
Classroom vs. office hours vs. hallway
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Expectancies: Relationship Factors
Includes:
Similarity
Familiarity
Liking
Status
EX: lower status people (student) will keep their distance from higher status people (professor)
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Expectancies: Communicator Characteristics
Includes
Demographics: Age, Sex, Race, etc.
Personal features: Physical appearance, personality, communication style
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1 (Ct’d). Expectancies
Expectancies exert significant influence on people’s
interaction patterns
impressions of one another
outcomes of interactions
Slide 21
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21
3 Core Concepts of EVT
Expectancy
Violation Valence
Communicator Reward Valence
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2. Violations
Puts more attention on:
The violator
The meaning of the violation
Well-liked people get away with violations more easily
More likely to BENEFIT from
violating
Violations of expectations may arouse and distract recipients
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Biden & Obama
Biden and a reporter
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2 (Ct’d). Violation Valence
Violation valence:
Perceived positive or negative value assigned to breach of expectations, regardless of the violator
Ask: How bad was the violation?
Usually give people some “wiggle room”
One they pass that, we evaluate the situation
Slide 24
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Usually give people some “wiggle room” to violate expectations
Biden and Prince Harry at Invictus Games
Biden and Reporter
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2 (Ct’d). Violation (Valence) EX:
EXAMPLE: SNL Joe Biden Sensitivity Training (Cold Open)
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This is an example for both violations AND violation valence, as valence is the EVALUATION of the violation
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2 (Ct’d). Violation Valence
Interpret the meaning of the violation
E.g., Was the hug romantic, or friendly?
Decide whether we like or dislike it.
EX Dislike: Expect high levels of intimacy with a partner, but get far less
EX Like: Expect moderate levels of intimate communication with partner, but get more
Steps to evaluation of expectancy violations:
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EX: Dislik:
26
3 Core Concepts of EVT
Expectancy
Violation Valence
Communicator Reward Valence
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3 (Ct’d). Communicator Reward Valence
DEF: Sum of positive and negative attributes brought to the encounter, plus potential to reward or punish in future
Mental audit of gains and losses
In other words: When the meaning of a violation is unclear, we interpret it in terms of how the violator can affect our lives!
Slide 28
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What can you do for me?
What can you do to me?
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3 (Ct’d). Computing Communicator Reward Valence
Features that are important when “computing” reward valence include:
High status
Desirable abilities
Good looks
Communication that shows liking, appreciation, and trust
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Positive Violations
Some violations can be beneficial (positive violations)
EX: If a professor thinks you’re an OK student, and you do very well in their class, they’re likely to:
Be more aware of the good work you do
Like you more
Be more persuaded by you
Think of you as more credible
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Interaction Adaptation Theory
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Interaction adaptation theory
How people adjust their behavior when others violate their expectations
E.G., Reacting to a ”close talker"
Slide 32
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Interaction Adaptation—Adjusting Expectations
If Valence is positive:
Behave in a way to show violation is OK: Reciprocity or convergence
Smile, engage in the same behavior
If valence negative:
Compensation or divergence
Walk away, Yell, “stop it!” Take a step backward, lean back, etc.
Slide 33
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Critique of EVT:
Meets four criteria of good scientific theory:
Advances a reasonable expectation
Explanation is relatively simple
Theory has testable hypotheses
Offers practical advice on achieving important communication goals
Slide 34
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Practical Application
When you want to persuade or get closer to someone:
Avoid violating expectancies when:
You’re unsure they will be ok with the violation
You have little to offer them
Consider violating when:
They won’t be offended
They regard you as a rewarding person
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EXTRA
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EX: Expectancy Violations
Face the door in the elevator, not the back wall
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EX: Expectancy Violations
The U.S. is a “no contact” culture
All cultures have some expectations for touch
Violations are judged +/- depending on the person, relationship, and context
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Core Concepts of EVT
EVT offers “soft determinism” rather than hard-core universal laws
Slide 39
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