The chapter discusses several theories of discourse and interaction, including speech act theory, coordinated management of meaning theory, communication accommodation theory, and expectancy violation theory. Speech act theory examines how language is used to perform actions through five types of speech acts: assertives, directives, commissives, expressives, and declaratives. Coordinated management of meaning theory explores how meanings are created, coordinated, and managed through rules and patterns of interaction. Communication accommodation theory addresses how people modify their communication behavior, such as speech patterns, to match or diverge from others. Expectancy violation theory focuses on how expectations shape interactions and the effects of violating expectations.

1. Theories
of
Discourse
and
Interaction
Chapter 9
Chapter 9

2. Communication
Is a transactional process in which the ones
actions have wide-ranging influences on the
Actions of others.
Mutual influence = Two way impact

3. Key Terms
Speech Act Theory
Coordinated Management of Meaning Theory
(CMM)
Communication Accommodation Theory
Expectancy Violation Theory

4. Speech Act Theory
Performing an Action 5 Types of Speech Acts
1. Assertives
2. Directives
3. Commissive
4. Expressives
5. Declaratives

5. Assertives
• You are the weakest link!
The advocate that truth value of a proposition.
State
TO: Claim
Declare
Hypothesize

6. Directive
That attempt to get the listener to do something
Order
Request
Beg
TO: Invite
Advise
Ask

7. Declaratives
I am going to pass Comm. Theory
By their very assertion, make something so
Quit
Nominate
TO: appoint
Define
Name

8. Illocutionary v/s Perlocutionary
Illocutionary Act
What is the message?
When I say: “It’s cold in here”
Am I saying that because of experience or am I
asking for a jacket or asking to turn up the heat.

9. Illocutionary v/s Perlocutionary
Perlocutionay
Deals with the effect on the receiver
Deals with the impact on the impact of the receiver
Causing the receiver to put another log on the fire
or turn of the thermostat

10. Coordinated Management of Meaning Theory
(CMM)
Providing some understanding of how meanings
are created, coordinated, and managed in the
social world.
Management – Meaning – Coordination
The hierarchy of meaning will change depending
on how well you know someone

11. Coordinated Management of Meaning Theory
(CMM)
Meaning are Managed by Rules
1. Constitutive Rule = Expression of Mild disbelief
Knowing what the words
count for!
“O.M.G.” (oh my gosh)
The Interpretation of the
“Get out of hear”
receiver gives meaning to
the worlds

12. Coordinated Management of Meaning Theory
(CMM)
Meaning are Managed by Rules cont.
2. Regulative Rules = Patterns of regular behavior
within certain situations
If you say “O.M.G.” all the time when someone tells
you a story, O.M.G switching from a constitutive word
or phase to a Regulative word of phase because of the
repetition of the use of that word or phase.

13. Hierarchy of meaning
• A kiss in church or “You can count on me” can
take on different meaning as the relationship
changes.
At the introduction phase of a relationship words or
phases could take different meaning that a
relationship of many years.
From Dictionary content to Relationship experience

14. Meshing
• How intentions and interpretation mesh
Meaning + Action = Coordinate
Two people having an argument and both
people thinking that they came out on top

15. Communication Accommodation Theory
Originated in Communication
Seeks to explain with monitors and adjustment
Change your style of talk or word based on the
person you are talking with.
Talk slow to with old people,
Speak with a southern drawl in the south,
Baby talk

16. Communication Accommodation Theory
Speaker Attune:
Matching someone else speech characteristics;
Accent
Length of utterances,
Speech rate,
Tone

17. Communication Accommodation Theory
Convergence:
To make similar to someone else
Individuals adapt to each other’s speech
Changing you word to sound like your: professor,
friend from England or your Cajun roommate

18. Communication Accommodation Theory
Divergence: When interactants try to highlight differences
between themselves and others in the interactions.
Full: individual matches the communication
behavior of the other
Partial: individual come close to the other but
does not match the behavior of the other
Hyper: the individual goes beyond the behavior of
the other (know as mocking) aka … cross-over
Unimodal: converging the vocabulary (Uni = one)
Multimodal: several dimensions of behavior

19. Symmetrical vs. Asymmetrical
Symmetrical : Asymmetrical:
Both parties in the Only one party
Interaction attempt in the interaction
attempts to
to converge towards converge
each other

20. Antecedents to Accommodation
Antecedents (aka) “Cause” to Accommodation
Wanting to be like another
Need for social approval, especially if future
interaction is likely
Status & Power

21. Consequences of Accommodation
Depends of the interpretation we make of others
accommodation
Negative consequences for convergence if we
perceive that the person is accommodating to
curry favor.
Doctor – patient interaction

22. Expectancy Violation Theory
Began as a theory of nonverbal communication
Arousal – causes us to pay more attention to
the violation than other elements of
the interaction

23. Expectancy Violation Theory
Violation of Expectation
Depends on 2 Factors;
1. Your evaluation of the violation itself
2. Your evaluation of the person committing
the violation

24. Expectancy Violation Theory
• Negative Valance ~ Does less than expected
• Positive Valance ~ Does more than expected
Threshold level is the behavior recognized as
violating the expectation
Arousal = causes an alertness that diverts attention

25. Expectancy Violation Theory
Communicator reward valence
Reward valence is based on a host of factors that
influence assessment of the violation;
1. Personality,
2. Physical attractiveness
3. Likelihood of future interaction
4. Status or power

26. Theories of Relational Development
Relationships is how we explain the world
Key Terms
Orientation
Outcomes
Social penetration theory
Exploratory affective exchange
Uncertainty reduction theory
Axioms
Reciprocity
Affective exchange
Stable exchange
Self-disclosure
Chapter 10

27. Social Penetration Theory
The development of relationships and self-disclosure
4 sequential stages of relationship
1. Orientation
2. Exploratory affective
3. Affective exchange
4. Stable exchange

28. Social Penetration Theory
Orientation:
The earliest stage were cautions and
tentative in their interaction of
sharing information.
Surface and Small Talk

29. Social Penetration Theory
Exploratory affective exchange:
The individuals begin to relax and share
some information beyond small.
Family and Back ground

30. Social Penetration Theory
Affective exchange:
Many barriers have been crossed with a
great deal of open exchange occurs.
Close friends and Romantic

31. Social Penetration Theory
Stable exchange:
Continued openness and interactions.
Communication occurs often and can be
nonverbal level
Solid and stable Friendship. Rate of self-
disclosure is slowing down.

32. Social Penetration Theory
• Breadth and Depth ~ As people move through
these stages, both the breadth and depth of
information exchange increase

33. Social Penetration Theory
Self Disclosure: involves communication about
self and can be both intimate
and non-intimate.
Self-Disclosure
In
Relationships
I am from Michigan
I want to be the Mayor
I have very few close friends
I have low back pain

34. Social Penetration Theory
Reciprocity ~ When one person reveals
something about themselves, the other
person will tend to feel an obligation to reply
with similar information.
Is not automatic
Not tit-for-tat
Reply can accrue later in the relationship

35. Social
Penetration
Theory
Self Disclosure and Reciprocity
The rate of exchange changes as individuals move
through relational stages.

36. Social Exchange Theory
Cost – Rewards = Outcome
We compare our outcomes in a current
relationship to past relationships and to possible
Future relationships
Evaluating relationships in an economic fashion

37. Social Exchange Situation
Outcomes ~ involves a consideration of both The outcome
the rewards derived from the will lead to a
decision
relationship and the cost.
Comparison level (CL) ~ Our assessment of part relationships
Comparison level of alternatives (CLalt) ~ Assessment of
possible future
relationships
Past, Present and what else is available

38. Uncertainly Reduction Theory
Uncertainly Reduction: A process of increasing
predictability outcomes
of complete strangers
Going through certain steps and checkpoints in order to
reduce uncertainty about each other and form an idea of
whether one likes or dislikes the other

39. Uncertainly Reduction Theory
According to this theory uncertainty is NOT GOOD
Reduce uncertainties by information seeking
The stages of the relationship is determined by the value,
one person places on the relationship and the cost verses
the rewards.
According to Social Penetration Theory:
Things that cause unusual depth discovery lake emotion
and social exchange theory lacks emotion.

40. Information-Seeking Strategies
Passive Stategies~ (aka) Observation :
Watching someone in a variety of social
situations.
Information gathering without interaction
Example:
You could watch how Glenda acts during parties
especially those at which she is particularly comfortable.

41. Information-Seeking Strategies
Active Strategies ~ Asking questions of 3rd parties
to test the rules
Individuals might ask other people questions
about the target individual or might structure
the environment in ways that information can
be gathered.
Example
You could talk with Glenda’s friends about her behavior or
invite her to a gathering

42. Information-Seeking Strategies
Interactive Strategies ~ The target person is asked
direct questions or in which
self-disclosure is used with
hope that reciprocation will
lead to more information
Example:
You could ask Glenda yourself (interrogation) or
Share your own views and hope for reciprocation

43. Motivations for Reducing Uncertainty
Future interaction: If we think we are going to
have future interaction
with someone
Incentive: values or possible potential rewards
Deviation: Better understanding with someone
is outside the norm.

44. Axioms of Uncertainty Reduction Theory
(Axioms = Taking at face value)
Axiom 1:
Given the high level of uncertainty at the onset,
Increasing verbal communication between
Strangers will decrease the level of uncertainty
Uncertainties verbal communication

45. Theories of Communication Process
Positive Feedback Contradiction
Negative Feedback Praxis
Equifinality External Dialectics
Content Function Internal Dialectics
Content Function Praxis Patterns
Relational Function Symmetrical
Complementary Dialectics
Chapter 11

46. One Cannot “NOT Communicate
Communication is not always’ intentional
People receive messages, regardless of whether
they were sent intentional or not.
Major importance in Interpersonal Communication

47. Content and Relationship Function
Each message attempts to express content, but it
also says something about the relationship
Relationship Function classifies the
content of the function
Context = words
Relationship = Tone

48. Content and Relationship Function cont.
“Did you give Ben his meds yet”
Content dimension: words within the statement
Relationship dimension: Tone of voice can give
different meaning
negative positive
Provides meaning

49. Symmetrical vs. Complementary
Symmetrical ~ based on equality, mirroring, equal
(Talking to your husband, wife or associate)
Complementary ~ based on maximizing difference,
power imbalance, (“I am more
important than you”)
(Talking to a student, teacher or boss)

50. Axioms of Uncertainty Reduction Theory
Axioms 2:
uncertainty nonverbal

51. Axioms of Uncertainty Reduction Theory
Axioms 4:
High levels of uncertainty
Cause
Low levels in intimacy

52. Axioms of Uncertainty Reduction Theory
Axioms 5:
High levels of uncertainty
Produce
high rates of reciprocity

53. Application of Uncertainty
Reduction Theory
Intercultural: People from different Countries
Continuing
Relationship
Organizational How fire fighters remove the
Socialization uncertainties from work

54. Relational System Theory
Relationship are systems and need maintenance
Chapter 11

55. Maintaining the Relationship System
Regular communication Spending quality time
Acts of service Words of affirmation
Gifts
Positive Feedback: Leads to change or improvement
within the relationship
Negative Feedback: Preserves the status quo

56. Maintaining the Relationship System
Environment
Relationship
Permeability ~ Relationships are open to
environmental influence
Environment ~ Can and will effect relationships
Equifinality ~ Multiple ways to reach the desired
level of satisfaction

57. Theories of Relational Dialectics
Contradiction~ Perhaps the most central and
dining feature of a dialectical approach.
One in which both forces can – and do – exist
simultaneously.
(In a relationship you can simultaneously
desire intimacy and distance )

58. Dialectics within a Relationship
1: Connectedness Separateness
Individual autonomy must be sacrificed
To much connection results in Identity lose

59. Dialectics within a Relationship
2. Certainly Uncertainly
Without predictability and uncertainly a
Healthy Relationship would become bring
and could not be sustained.
Managing the tension between certainty
and uncertainly is a central part of
relational communication

60. Dialectics within a Relationship
3. Openness Closedness
Not a linear path to intimacy
Sometimes we need for the other person to
know everything
All feeling and facts need not be shared

61. Dialectics within a Relationship
4. Inclusion Seclusion
Need seclusion to bond and must negotiate the
tension between doing things as a couple
and doing things within a larger group
Need out side exposure for stimulation support

62. Dialectics within a Relationship
5. Conventionality Uniqueness
Excessive uniqueness makes others uncomfortable
(following social norms)
Intimacy requires that relational partners fell
different from the rest of the world
Things that are only known inside the relationship
(Pet names, eating cereal from a cool whip bowl)

63. Dialectics within a Relationship
6. Revelation Concealment
“Going Public” about one issue or another
provides opportunities for support.
There are times within the relationship you will want
To keep things private (mis-carriage) and other times
you will want to be public (wedding)

64. Patterns of Relational Praxis identified
Paxis Pattern Definition
Denial Connectedness but ignoring needs for separateness. Don’t
work out in the long run
Disorientation Overwhelmed. Contradictions are regarded as inevitable,
negative, and unchangeable.
Spiraling inversion Bouncing back & forth between poles, meets most of the needs
of the Relationship
Segmentation Compartmentalization, some issues are dealt by favoring one
pole other another
Balance Reconcile both poles / in compromise
Recalibration Temporarily reframing situation so that poles don’t seem
oppositional

65. Theories of Communication Context
Weick’s theory of organizing:
equivocality, enactment, selection, retention,
recipes, causal maps
Unobtrusive and concertive control theory:
simple, technological, bureaucratic,
and concertive control; identification, discipline
Chapter 12

67. Dialogue(Littlejohn)
Dialectics,
Chronotopic similarity
Self-becoming
Amplitude
salience

68. Dialogue
Used to maintain relationships !
A coming together of diverse voices in conversation
Conversation that defines & redefines Relationship
as they emerge in actual situations over time
What we use to manage dialectical tensions

69. Dialogue
Can be used as a turning point in a relationship
Need not be verbal comm., could be an action
Self, other and relationship are constructed and
maintained through talk.

70. Dialogue
Create moments (photos) or turning points to
remember as important
Retelling old stories that highlights similarity and
shared experience (chronotopic similarity)
Identify and reinforce difference between and
others (self-becoming)
(men are from mars women are from venus)

71. Dialogue
Unity with in difference:
Dialogue gives us a chance to achieve unity
within diversity
We use conversations to manage competing
needs for connection and autonomy
Express needs and perceptions and empathize
with needs and perceptions of others

72. Dialogue
What changes our relationships:
Amplitude: Strength of feeling and behaviors
Salience: focus on past situations, present or
future (babies, marriage, etc…)

73. Dialogue
Sequence – order of events in the relationship
How you organize your time
What you do around and with one another
Pace/Rhythms: Rapidity of events, length of
intervals between events

74. Dialogue is Aesthetic
Aesthetic perceived pattern in the relationship that
makes it seem identifiable, unique and whole
Dialogue produces an overall sense of what the
relationship is like
When we talk about our relationship and tell
stories about them out talk reflects that
aesthetics
Momentary and evolving

75. Narrative Paradigm
Narrative: Express and understand thru story
telling which is a natural part of being human
Our beliefs and behaviors are reflected in and
shaped by narratives
More board than theory
Narrative = perspective or approach

76. Narrative Paradigm
In contrast to narrative , many theories of
communication are grounded in rational
paradigm
Narration “symbolic actions” – words and or deeds
that have sequence and meaning for who create
or interpret them”

77. Narrative Paradigm vs. Rational Word Paradigm
Narrative Rational
We are story tellers we are rational being
Decision are based on good reasons Decision are based on arguments
Good reason are based on history Arguments should be logical and Sound
Biography, Culture and chamber Rationality is based on quality of
Rationality is based on how internally knowledge and formal reasoning
consistent and truthful stories seems The world can fully understand though
We experience the world thought reasoning
stories

78. Narrative Rationality
Traditional, test of rationality include do claims
correspond to actual facts?
Have all the facts been considered?
Are arguments internally consistent?
Does the reasoning that connects bacts and claims
seem logical?

79. Narrative Rationality
Coherence:
Structural Coherence: Do the elements of the story
flow smoothly
Material Coherence: Is t he character in the story
Characterological:
Fidelity: Does the story seem believable?
Does it ring true?
Fidelity: A measure of simplistic

80. Evaluation the Narrative Paradigm
An interpretive theory
Criticized as overboard
Narrative rationality may be overrated
But does help to explain why we tell stories and
why some are more believable

81. Narrative is in more of Political films
Real world emphasis on groups and teams
design of typical organizations has changed
(Growing decision task complexity)
Simple vs. complex problems
Half of all decisions fail (nutt)(if a decision sticks
for a year, it is considered a good decision.

82. Functional theory of Group Decision Making
Key functions Include:
1. Understanding of the issues
2. Criteria for evaluation
3. Identification of alternatives Process
4. Evaluation of alternatives To Make
5. Selection of alternative that Decisions
matches established criteria
Chapter 13

83. Functional Theory of Group Decision Making
1. Analysis of problem situation
2. Establish criteria for evaluation solutions
3. Consider positive & negative attributes of
specific solutions
4. Must establish operating norms and procedures
that guide groups communication
Functional Theory argues that these functions
associated with higher quality decisions

84. Functional Theory of Group Decision Making
Research generally supports the theory, but
individual studies often differ with regards to
which functions are most related to decision
quality.
Overall, research shows that the most important
factors are
1. Assessing negative consequences of potential
solutions.
2. Problem analysis

85. Functional Theory of Group Decision Making
• Criticisms:
Applies only to groups with no history, (not real
groups) aka ad hoc groups
Applies only to task related groups

86. Multiple Sequence model
Unitary sequence path ~ Follows the traditional
sequence of orientation,
“Rational, logical and standard”
Complex cyclic path ~ Multiple problem-solution
cycles
Solution-oriented path ~ Centers of solutions and
involves no activity to
problem definition or
analysis.

87. Symbolic convergence theory
Fantasy Theme ~ Ignites group interaction.
Refers to something outside
Fantasy Chain ~ “chaining out” Sharing of group
fantasies that groups develop a
sense of community and shared identity
Fantasy Type / Vision ~ emerges when same set of
themes cross several groups
Once ideas goes across groups
it becomes a vision

88. Impact of Symbolic Convergence Theory
Believes that the sharing of group fantasies
Indentifying who is “in” and “out” of the group
Clearly divides the sympathetic or good people
(we) from the unsympathetic or the evil
people (they)

89. Bona fide group (BFG) perspective
Groups are complex and contextual
Treats groups as a social system linked to its context
BFG are marked by shifting membership
BFG are clearly not zero-history or ad hoc groups