Argumentative and Aggressive Communication

Andrew S. Rancer (Ph.D., Kent State University) is professor of communication at The University of Akron in Akron, Ohio. He teaches communication theory, communication research, nonverbal communication, training methods in communication, and personality and communication to both undergraduate and M.A. students. Andrew's research focuses on the role of argumentative and verbally aggressive communication and other personality traits across a wide variety of contexts. He has published in Communication Monographs, Human Communication Research, Communication Education, Communication Quarterly, the Journal of Intercultural Communication Research, and the Journal of Personality Assessment, among other places. He has also published several book chapters, and is one of the coauthors of the widely used textbook, Building Communication Theory. Theodore A. Avtgis (Ph.D., Kent State University) is an associate professor of communication at West Virginia University. He teaches research methods, communication theory, organizational communication, interpersonal communication, training and development, communication personality, and small group communication. Ted's research focuses on the impact of personality on relationships and relational outcomes. More specifically, the influence of argumentative and aggressive communication in the workplace and within the family. He has published in Communication Education, Management Communication Quarterly, Communication Research Reports, among other places.

Part I: The Structure and Origin of Argumentative and Aggressive Communication 1. What are Argumentative and Aggressive Communication? The Genesis of the Theory of Argumentative and Aggressive Communication Purpose of This Book The Importance of Communication Traits What are Communication Traits? What is Aggressive Communication? Constructive Aggressive Communication Traits Categories of Trait Argumentativeness Destructive Aggressive Communication Traits Causes of Verbal Aggressiveness Argumentative and Aggressive Communication Traits and Personality Theory The Dimensions of Personality The Relationship Between Temperament and Aggressive Communication Traits Conclusion Discussion Questions for Chapter 1 2. Measuring Individual Differences in Argumentative and Agressive Communication Measuring the Argumentative and Verbal Aggressiveness Traits The Development of the Argumentative Scale The Development of the Verbal Aggressivness Scale Challenges to the Scales Critiques of the Argumentativeness Scale Critiques of the Verbal Aggressiveness Scale Alternative Methods of Assessing Argumentative and Aggressive Communication Assessing Beliefs About Argumentative and Aggressive Communication Conclusion Discussion Questions for Chapter 2 3. Trait, State, and Interactionist Approaches to Studying Argumentative and Aggressive Communication The Trait Perspective on Argumentative and Aggressive Communication The Situationist Perspective on Argumentative and Aggressive Communication Situational Factors: Topic and Topic Salience Situational Factors: The Adversary's Attributes Argument Topic Context and Characteristics as Situational Influences The Interactionist Approach to Argumentative and Aggressive Communication Conclusion Discussion Questions for Chapter 3 Part II: The Function of Argumentative and Aggressive Communication 4. Argumentative and Aggressive Communication in Relational and Family Contexts Argumentativeness and Verbal Aggressiveness in General Interpersonal Relationships Friendship Relationships Dating Relationships Family Relationships Marital Relationships Argumentativeness, Verbal Aggressiveness, and Interspousal Violence Sibling Pairs Parent-Child Dyads Conclusion Discussion Questions for Chapter 4 5. Argumentative and Aggressive Communication in Organizational Contexts Organizational Satisfaction Argumentativeness, Verbal Aggressiveness and Satisfaction Argumentativeness, Verbal Aggressiveness and Gender Differences in the Organization Argumentativeness, Verbal Aggressiveness and Other Organizational Constructs Conclusion Discussion Questions for Chapter 5 6. Argumentative and Verbally Aggressive Communication in Instructional Contexts The Influence of Instructor Trait Argumentativeness The Influence of Instructor Trait Verbal Aggressiveness The Influence of Instructor Use of Verbally Aggressive Messages Characteristics of the Argumentative Student Conclusion Discussion Questions for Chapter 6 7. Argumentative and Aggressive Communication in Intercultural and Intracultural Contexts Co-Cultural Differences in Argumentative and Verbal Aggressiveness Regional Differences in Argumentativeness and Verbal Aggressiveness West Meets West East Meets West Conclusion Discussion Questions for Chapter 7 8. Argumentative and Aggressive Communication in Mass and Mediated Communication Social Learning, the Media and Aggression Television Situation Comedies Comparing Sitcoms to Other Television Genres Televised Wrestling Music Other Mediated Communication Research Conclusion Discussion Questions for Chapter 8 9. Argumentative and Aggressive Communication in Persuasion and Social Influence Situations An Orientation to Persuasion An Orientation to Compliance-Gaining Persuasion and Compliance-Gaining Research: A focus on Traits A Transactional Approach to Argumentativeness and Persuasion Processing Persuasive Messages: The Influence of Argumentative and Aggressive Communication Argumentativeness, Verbal Aggressiveness and Compliance-Gaining Behavior Determining Intentions to Argue: Testing Two Frameworks Argumentative and Aggressive Communication and Resistance to Persuasion Conclusion Discussion Questions for Chapter 9 Part III: Enhancing Communicative Outcomes Through Improved Understanding of Argumentative and Aggressive Communication Processes 10. Modifying Argumentative and Aggressive Communication The Call for Training The Inventional System Training Adults to Argue Constructively Training in Argument Training Adolescents to Argue Constructively Conclusion Discussion Questions for Chapter 10 11. Relating Argumentative and Aggressive Communication with Apprehension, Adaptation and Personality Traits The Relationship of Argumentativeness, Verbal Aggressiveness and Apprehension Traits The Relationship of Argumentativeness, Verbal Aggressiveness and Personality Traits Conclusion Discussion Questions for Chapter 11 12. Advancing Research and Theory-Building Efforts on Argumentative and Aggressive Communication A Problem-Centered Approach to Communication Inquiry The Research Contributions A Focus on the Message/Individual Cultural Influence Focus Theoretical Foundation/Meta-Theory Focus Measurement/Theoretical Refinement Focus Conclusion Discussion Questions for Chapter 12 Appendix A - The Argumentativeness and Verbal Aggressiveness Scales Appendix B - The Adolescent Argumentativeness and Verbal Aggressiveness Scales Appendix C - Short-Form Versions of the Argumentativeness and Verbal Aggressiveness Scales Appendix D - The Affective-Behavioral-Cognitive Scale (ABCAS) Appendix E - The Indirect Interpersonal Aggressiveness Scale Appendix F - The Beliefs About Arguing Measure Appendix G - Additional Resources on Argumentative and Aggressive Communication References Index

"This is the first book to discuss the history, research and application of the positive and deleterious communication traits of argumentation and verbal aggressiveness. The handbook's clear style makes it accessible to any intelligent, motivated, critically analytical reader or educated layperson: from undergraduates and graduates, to teachers and researchers on any level, to those in the applied world, such as practicing psychologists and, of course counselors, managers, and politicians. Even secondary and tertiary school teachers ought to convey certain information to their students to prepare them for life." -- Karl H. Wolf * Contemporary Psychology: APA Review of Books *