Arguments, Aggression, and Conflict: New Directions in Theory and Research

by Theodore Avtgis (Editor), Andrew S. Rancer (Editor)

Overview

Arguments, Aggression, and Conflict provides a thorough examination of argumentative and aggressive communication. Editors Theodore A. Avtgis and Andrew S. Rancer bring together a score of prolific and informed authors to discuss aspects of the conceptualization and measurement of aggressive communication. The book features an exclusive focus on two "aggressive communication" traits: argumentativeness and verbal aggressiveness, one of the most dominant areas of communication research over the last twenty five years both nationally and internationally. The chapters include cutting-edge issues in the field and present new ideas for future research.

This book is a valuable resource for instructors, researchers, scholars, theorists, and graduate students in communication studies and social psychology. Covering a variety of topics, from the broad-based (e.g. new directions in aggressive communication in the organizational context) to the more specific (e.g. verbal aggression in sports), this text presents a comprehensive compilation of essays on aggressive communication and conflict.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415996419
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	03/25/2010
Pages:	448
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Theodore A. Avtgis (Ph.D., Kent State University) is Associate Professor of Communication at West Virginia University. He has co-authored four books, including Argumentative and Aggressive Communication with Andrew S. Rancer. He serves on the editorial boards of Argument and Advocacy, Communication Research Reports, Human Communication, and Journal of Intercultural Communication Research, among others. Among several awards, he was recognized as one of the Top Twelve Most Productive Researchers in the field of Communication Studies (between 1996 and 2001) and as a member of the World Council on Hellenes Abroad, USA Region of American Academics.

Andrew S. Rancer (Ph.D., Kent State University) is Professor of Communication at the University of Akron. He has published articles in Communication Monographs, Human Communication Research, Communication Education, Communication Quarterly, and Communication Research Reports, among others. He is co-author of four books, and he has served as editor of Communication Research Reports and the Massachusetts Communication Journal. Among several honors, he is the recipient of the Eastern Communication Association’s Past Presidents/Officers Award (1989) and Distinguished Research Fellow Award (1997) and was a member of ECA’s Committee of Scholars (1989-90).

Table of Contents

Preface x

List of Contributors xiii

SectionI Conceptualization and Operationalization of Argumentative and Aggressive Communication 1

1 Verbal Aggressiveness as an Expression of Selected Biological Influences Michael J. Beatty Michelle E. Pence 3

2 Verbal Aggression and Prefrontal Cortex Asymmetry Alan D. Heisel 26

3 Aggressive Communication: A Life Span Perspective Kevin B. Wright Elizabeth A. Craig 44

4 Measuring Argumentativeness and Verbal Aggressiveness: Psychometric Concerns and Advances Timothy R. Levine Michael R. Kotowski 67

5 Exploring Constructive Aggressive Communication in China: Its Cultural Roots, Strategies, and New Developments Yang Lin Jianguo Zhao Fengming Zhao 82

6 Culture and Aggressive Communication Anne Maydan Nicotera Nicole M. Robinson 100

7 Global Communicator: Understanding the Role of Verbal Aggressiveness and Argumentativeness in International Negotiations Jill E. Rudd Piana R. Lawson 124

Section II Contextual Research on Argumentative, Aggressive, and Conflict Communication 137

8 Student Aggressive Communication in the K-12 Classroom: Bullying and Conflict Scott A. Myers Christine E. Rittenour 139

9 Reconsidering the Role of Aggressive Communication in Higher Education Paul Schrodt Amber N. Finn 159

10 Media Entertainment and Verbal Aggression: Content, Effects, and Correlates Rebecca M. Chory 177

11 Cyberbullying: Aggressive Communication in the Digital Age Anthony J. Roberto Jen Eden 198

12 Aggressive Communication in Political Contexts John S. Seiter Robert H. Gass 217

13 Aggressive Communication within Medical Care: Mapping the Domain Theodore A. Avtgis E. Phillips Polack 241

14 Trash Talk and Beyond: Aggressive Communication in the Context of Sports Jeffrey W. Kassing Jimmy Sanderson 253

15 Nonverbal "Verbal" Aggression: Its Forms and Its Relation to Trait Verbal Aggressiveness Andrew S. Rancer Yang Lin James M. Durbin Emily C. Faulkner 267

16 The Dark Side of Organizational Life: Aggressive Expression in the Workplace Theodore A. Avtgis Rebecca M. Chory 285

17 Aggressive Communication and Conflict in Small Groups Carolyn M. Anderson Mili Banerjee 305

18 Aggressive Expression within the Family: Effects on Processes and Outcomes Sally Vogl-Bauer 318

19 The Interactionist Model of Teasing Communication Rachel L.Dicioccio 340

Section III Factors Influencing Arguments, Aggression, and Conflict Communication 357

20 Tolerance for Disagreement Virginia P. Richmond James C. Mccroskey 359

21 Taking Conflict Personally and its Connections with Aggressiveness Dale Hample Ioana A. Cionea 372

22 Verbal Trigger Events—Other Catalysts and Precursors of Aggression Charles J. Wigley III 388

23 The Instrumental Use of Verbally Aggressive Messages Matthew M. Martin Katie Neary Dunleavy Carrie D. Kennedy-Lightsey 400

Index 417