The Expectancy Violations Theory And Human Norms - 1299 Words

We have all heard the maxim â€Å"stick to the status quo.† The desire to adhere to societal norms influences our everyday actions and largely shapes how we interact with others. What happens when we stray from the norm and do something unexpected? For this assignment, Professor Striley, after explaining the expectancy violations theory, challenged her students to apply its concepts to violate a stranger’s expectations in public and record the subsequent response. Through this activity, I learned firsthand that low communicator reward valence potential could cause a seemingly ambiguous violation to seem negative. In this paper, I will first explain the expectancy violations theory and describe the expectancy my group violated for the assignment. Next, I will apply four concepts from the expectancy violations theory to my group’s violation. Finally, I will address my own reactions to my group’s violation and how it has further shaped by understanding of communicator reward valence and the expectancy violations theory as a whole. The expectancy violations theory is â€Å"about what happens when we act differently than others predict we will act† (Striley, 2015, p. 5). This fixed prediction stems from the idea that individuals generally adhere to social norms, which can be defined as â€Å"rules indicating how individuals are expected to behave in specific situations† (Striley, 2015, p. 7). For example, most people would not wear footie pajamas to a job interview because theyShow MoreRelatedExpectancy Violation Theory And Its Significance1650 Words   |  7 Pagesreviews expectancy violation theory and its significance in understanding interpersonal communication. The theory highlights the unexpected behavior of human being while interacting (Dainton, 2011). This theory is based on the reduction uncertainty where ambiguity on behaviors of others is reduced through interaction. Expectancy violations theory off ers some prospect to compare the personality of traditional empiricism with humanism. The theory was developed from the Nonverbal expectancy violation modelRead MoreThe Theory Of The Expectancy Violation Theory1668 Words   |  7 Pagespre-existing and external factors. Burgoon’s Expectancy Violations Theory analyses people’s reactions to unanticipated violations of social norms or expectations. This theory discusses many of the different factors that play a role when individuals form their expectancies such as context, relationship, communicator characteristics, and nonverbal communication. This paper analyses the pros and cons of the Expectancy Violation Theory. It argues why this theory satisfies enough of Griffin s six standardsRead MoreExpectancy Violation Theory1588 Words   |  7 PagesExpectancy Violation Theory Introduction â€Å"Expectancy violations exert significance on people’s interaction patterns, on their impressions of one another, and on the outcomes of their interactions† (Burgoon 1993:40). In other words, Judee Burgoon, founder of the expectancy violation theory, concluded from various experiments that people evaluate communication with others in a negative or positive regard, based on their expectation of the interaction and their opinion of the communicator. WhenRead MoreExpectancy Violation Theory1573 Words   |  7 PagesExpectancy Violation Theory Introduction â€Å"Expectancy violations exert significance on people’s interaction patterns, on their impressions of one another, and on the outcomes of their interactions† (Burgoon 1993:40). In other words, Judee Burgoon, founder of the expectancy violation theory, concluded from various experiments that people evaluate communication with others in a negative or positive regard, based on their expectation of the interaction and their opinion of the communicator. When peopleRead MoreThree Theories of Nonverbal Communication Essay1231 Words   |  5 Pagesthat this field is relatively recent there are many theories about our interaction with others. This paper will discuss the nonverbal expectancy theory along with two other theories, and describe how these theories can work together. Before it is possible to compare and contrast the three models, one must first be familiar with them. So what is the nonverbal expectancy theory, and how can it be of a benefit? This theory is based upon social norms within a conversation when dealing with strangersRead MoreInterpersonal Communication : The Heart And Soul Of Communication1366 Words   |  6 Pagessignificant others, and immediate others, before expanding to other areas of life. Through communication, scholars have been able to predict an array of different reactions through calculated uses of surveys and questionnaires. The Expectancy Violations Theory (EVT) model defines violation expectedness â€Å"as the extent to which behavior varies from the range of expected behavior† (Bevan, 2003). Where do individuals learn the range of what is deemed as expected behavior? Scholars understand that it is a combinationRead MoreExpectancy Violation Theory (Paper Rough Draft)1192 Words   |  5 PagesExpectancy Violati on Theory (Paper Rough Draft) â€Æ' Expectancy Violation Theory, or more commonly referred to as EVT, is the study of attempting to explain one’s reactions to unexpected behavior of their peers, and the various meanings that people attribute to the violation, or infringement, of their personal space. Judee Burgoon defines personal space as the invisible, variable volume of space surrounding an individual that defines that individual’s preferred distance from others. I will explainRead MoreInterpersonal Relationships And Its Effects On The Family And Community822 Words   |  4 Pagesinterpersonal relations and why people need them. In this quest, many theories, concepts, and axioms have been proposed to explain the complex notion of interpersonal relationships. This essay utilizes various theories and ideas to develop the ingredients of an effective interpersonal relationship. The theories will include the Symbolic Interaction, Expectancy Violations, Constructivism, Social Penetration, and Relational Di alectics Theory while the ideas will consist of non-verbal communication, self-conceptRead MorePersonal Space And Threat Threshold2014 Words   |  9 PagesTheory Summary According to Judgee Burgoon’s Expectancy Violation Theory, violating non-verbal expectancies, under certain conditions, can be more passive then conforming (Garard class-notes). This theory is applied to when an individual’s personal space and threat threshold is violated. Burgoon defines personal space as, â€Å" the invisible, variable volume of space surrounding an individual that defines that individual’s preferred distance from others† (Griffin 2012). The size and shape of our personalRead MoreEssay about Interpersonal Communication1845 Words   |  8 Pagescommunication theories, such as social identity theory, self-expansion theory, uncertainty reduction theory and expectancy violation theory, I learned more about myself, as well as my relationships and surroundings. Through communication, we socially construct our identities; how we see ourselves and how the world sees us. Our identity, from a young age through present age, constantly alters and changes through various interactions with different people and surroundings (Hall LaFrance). As humans, it is