Examines two factors (affirming/nonaffirming style and dyad sex) to determine if they influence perceptions of verbal aggression and argumentation behavior in an interpersonal dispute. Finds that fewer mistakes were made in the perception of verbal aggression in the conflict when they communicated with an affirming rather than a nonaffirming…

Examines communicative responses to the highly argumentative person. Finds that the adversary's use of verbal aggression provokes male subjects to be more verbally aggressive, but stimulates female subjects to be more argumentative. (RAE)

Explores the relationship between arguing and verbal aggression and the benefits accruing from argumentativeness. Found that students who are highly argumentative are not easily provoked to using verbal aggression in an argument, supporting the view that verbal aggression often stems from a lack of skill in arguing. (PD)

Results revealed that inducing women to be more argumentative had a favorable effect on their credibility. (PD)

Male and female students prepared a short speech on a controversial topic and were told that the audience was either in favor or opposed to the speaker's message position. As hypothesized, females in the opposed audience condition were least inclined to deliver the speech. Implications for communication education are discussed. (PD)