Presents S. Jackson's and S. Jacobs' theory of conversational argument and demonstrates flaws in the representational validity of their research from the perspective of face-to-face interaction. Describes characteristics of a "paradigm case" of interactional argument that extends Jackson's and Jacobs' ideas about argumentation in…

Lends support to the idea that the nature of the communication topic may be significantly related to evidence effectiveness and perhaps to the process of attitude change employed by the receivers. (MH)

Discusses the ecological and comparative-intelligence approach to human language. (DD)

Results of this study indicated that from prelaboratory to post laboratory, subjects' ratings showed a decrement in self disclosure toward both male and female friends. Thus the communications laboratory seems to have had a significant effect on the participants, the change being in the opposite direction from that expected. (Author)

Describes a perspective designed to examine the structure, function, and process of interpersonal communication to locate the major sources of problems in particular interactions. States assumptions of the perspective, defines the elements and processes of interpersonal communication, suggests ways to use the framework, and describes current…

Written transcripts of spouses' discussions were coded using two different systems. Findings indicate that the results obtained from one coding system cannot easily be compared with results obtained from the other system. Author calls for resolution of differences in coding procedures if relational communication research is to be usefully…

Provides an insight into the group process of therapy and compares and contrasts the T-group process with therapy group process. The here-and-now orientation was present in T-group and therapy-group interaction. Greater relational conflict was present in the T-group. Members of the therapy group were much more defensive than members of the…

Study delineates the five most frequently utilized strategies of relational conflict resolution: manipulation, nonnegotiation, emotional appeal, personal rejection, and empathic understanding. (PD)

This article discusses the interactive behavior that accompanies verbal exchange. It specifically describes a set of experiments designed to isolate an important subset of interactive behavior, the vocal (as opposed to the verbal) and to relate this information to a wide range of social impressions resulting from verbal exchange. (Available from…

Defining interpersonal orientations as the characteristic and consistent ways in which individuals interact with others, this paper examines various conceptualizations and theories regarding such orientations in order to discover how they affect interpersonal communication. In particular, the paper (1) reviews work concerning psychological types;…

This study tests the relationship between teachers' philosophy of human nature and the congruence of their verbal - nonverbal behavior. Results were inconclusive. (Author/HMV)

Fifty-four college females were interviewed individually. Interviewer disclosed experiences, attitudes, and beliefs similar and dissimilar to those revealed by the student during the interview. Results suggest that an intermediate level of interviewer self-disclosure may best initiate reciprocity of disclosure, which can lead to more positive…

Thirty male and twenty female students were used to investigate the strategies of topic management. In pairs, they were told that the male (or female) would like to become friends with the female (or male), and were assigned a dialogue which created a positive or a negative context. Then the subject assigned as the initiator was given one of three…