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.

"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."

• Part I: The Structure and Origin of Argumentative and Aggressive Communication1. What are Argumentative and Aggressive Communication?The Genesis of the Theory of Argumentative and Aggressive CommunicationPurpose of This BookThe Importance of Communication TraitsWhat are Communication Traits?What is Aggressive Communication?Constructive Aggressive Communication TraitsCategories of Trait ArgumentativenessDestructive Aggressive Communication TraitsCauses of Verbal AggressivenessArgumentative and Aggressive Communication Traits and Personality TheoryThe Dimensions of PersonalityThe Relationship Between Temperament and Aggressive Communication TraitsConclusionDiscussion Questions for Chapter 12. Measuring Individual Differences in Argumentative and Agressive CommunicationMeasuring the Argumentative and Verbal Aggressiveness TraitsThe Development of the Argumentative ScaleThe Development of the Verbal Aggressivness ScaleChallenges to the ScalesCritiques of the Argumentativeness ScaleCritiques of the Verbal Aggressiveness ScaleAlternative Methods of Assessing Argumentative and Aggressive CommunicationAssessing Beliefs About Argumentative and Aggressive CommunicationConclusionDiscussion Questions for Chapter 23. Trait, State, and Interactionist Approaches to Studying Argumentative and Aggressive CommunicationThe Trait Perspective on Argumentative and Aggressive CommunicationThe Situationist Perspective on Argumentative and Aggressive CommunicationSituational Factors: Topic and Topic SalienceSituational Factors: The Adversary′s AttributesArgument TopicContext and Characteristics as Situational InfluencesThe Interactionist Approach to Argumentative and Aggressive CommunicationConclusionDiscussion Questions for Chapter 3Part II: The Function of Argumentative and Aggressive Communication4. Argumentative and Aggressive Communication in Relational and Family ContextsArgumentativeness and Verbal Aggressiveness in General Interpersonal RelationshipsFriendship RelationshipsDating RelationshipsFamily RelationshipsMarital RelationshipsArgumentativeness, Verbal Aggressiveness, and Interspousal ViolenceSibling PairsParent-Child DyadsConclusionDiscussion Questions for Chapter 45. Argumentative and Aggressive Communication in Organizational ContextsOrganizational SatisfactionArgumentativeness, Verbal Aggressiveness and SatisfactionArgumentativeness, Verbal Aggressiveness and Gender Differences in the OrganizationArgumentativeness, Verbal Aggressiveness and Other Organizational ConstructsConclusionDiscussion Questions for Chapter 56. Argumentative and Verbally Aggressive Communication in Instructional ContextsThe Influence of Instructor Trait ArgumentativenessThe Influence of Instructor Trait Verbal AggressivenessThe Influence of Instructor Use of Verbally Aggressive MessagesCharacteristics of the Argumentative StudentConclusionDiscussion Questions for Chapter 67. Argumentative and Aggressive Communication in Intercultural and Intracultural ContextsCo-Cultural Differences in Argumentative and Verbal AggressivenessRegional Differences in Argumentativeness and Verbal AggressivenessWest Meets WestEast Meets WestConclusionDiscussion Questions for Chapter 78. Argumentative and Aggressive Communication in Mass and Mediated CommunicationSocial Learning, the Media and AggressionTelevision Situation ComediesComparing Sitcoms to Other Television GenresTelevised WrestlingMusicOther Mediated Communication ResearchConclusionDiscussion Questions for Chapter 89. Argumentative and Aggressive Communication in Persuasion and Social Influence SituationsAn Orientation to PersuasionAn Orientation to Compliance-GainingPersuasion and Compliance-Gaining Research: A focus on TraitsA Transactional Approach to Argumentativeness and PersuasionProcessing Persuasive Messages: The Influence of Argumentative and Aggressive CommunicationArgumentativeness, Verbal Aggressiveness and Compliance-Gaining BehaviorDetermining Intentions to Argue: Testing Two FrameworksArgumentative and Aggressive Communication and Resistance to PersuasionConclusionDiscussion Questions for Chapter 9Part III: Enhancing Communicative Outcomes Through Improved Understanding of Argumentative and Aggressive Communication Processes10. Modifying Argumentative and Aggressive CommunicationThe Call for TrainingThe Inventional SystemTraining Adults to Argue ConstructivelyTraining in ArgumentTraining Adolescents to Argue ConstructivelyConclusionDiscussion Questions for Chapter 1011. Relating Argumentative and Aggressive Communication with Apprehension, Adaptation and Personality TraitsThe Relationship of Argumentativeness, Verbal Aggressiveness and Apprehension TraitsThe Relationship of Argumentativeness, Verbal Aggressiveness and Personality TraitsConclusionDiscussion Questions for Chapter 1112. Advancing Research and Theory-Building Efforts on Argumentative and Aggressive CommunicationA Problem-Centered Approach to Communication InquiryThe Research ContributionsA Focus on the Message/IndividualCultural Influence FocusTheoretical Foundation/Meta-Theory FocusMeasurement/Theoretical Refinement FocusConclusionDiscussion Questions for Chapter 12Appendix A - The Argumentativeness and Verbal Aggressiveness ScalesAppendix B - The Adolescent Argumentativeness and Verbal Aggressiveness ScalesAppendix C - Short-Form Versions of the Argumentativeness and Verbal Aggressiveness ScalesAppendix D - The Affective-Behavioral-Cognitive Scale (ABCAS)Appendix E - The Indirect Interpersonal Aggressiveness ScaleAppendix F - The Beliefs About Arguing MeasureAppendix G - Additional Resources on Argumentative and Aggressive CommunicationReferencesIndex