Proposes a theoretical framework for how givers and receivers of support interactively manage communication acts. Integrates theories of politeness and face work to describe characteristics of effective supportive communication. Demonstrates the framework's heuristic value in a series of research questions. (SR)

Integrates extant research on pro- and antisocial compliance-gaining tactic selection decisions with research about the effects of compliance-gaining tactic use. Finds supervisors were rated more competent when using liking rather than negative altercasting. Presents a model supporting the tactic-competence-task attraction path relationship. (SR)

Reports two studies investigating the relationship between communication style variables and sales performance. Relates findings which indicate that the "precise" dimension of communication is strongly associated with effective sales performance and that different combinations of the "precise" and "friendly"…

Responds to an article in an earlier issue of this journal. Argues that, rather than attempting to promote theory construction based on an artificially limited field of communication, an effort should be made to unify the field by assimilating its diversity, and to bridge the broad span between interpersonal communication theory and classical…

Finds that performance visualization is more effective in reducing communication anxiety, state communication anxiety, negative thoughts, and rigidity for people who can create vivid mental images than for those whose images are less vivid. (SR)

Describes a meta-analysis comparing the persuasiveness of one-sided and two-sided messages. Demonstrates that a two-sided message with refutation is more persuasive than a one-sided message, whereas a one-sided message is more persuasive than a two-sided message without refutation. (SR)

Determines whether visualization can enhance students' public speaking performance and reduce speech anxiety. Finds that standard visualization and performance visualization reduce negative thinking, state communication anxiety (CA), and trait CA. Finds that performance visualization results in fewer disfluencies, less rigidity, and less…

Tests the arousal-valence model of nonverbal communication by examining the effect of selected immediate nonverbal communication cues exhibited by bank tellers on the satisfaction of their clients in banking transactions. Finds that immediacy in brief impersonal transactions is not a significant predictor of satisfaction. (SR)

Focuses on the implications of participatory democratic theory, as compared to elite democratic theory, for political communication theorists. Discusses how reciprocity provides political communication researchers with a tool for gauging the successes of various communication systems in enhancing participatory democracy. Suggests how mass-mediated…

Reports data on the interrelationship of heart rate and blood pressure to state and trait social anxiety. Finds that results confirm predictions about the psychosomatics of speech anxiety and demonstrate the importance of studying blood pressure. (MG)

Examines the impact 4 pragmatic skills (requesting, turn taking, responding promptly when spoken to, and maintaining the logic of the conversation) have on likeability, as seen by 10-year-old girls. Finds that display of pragmatic competence resulted in higher likeability and more positive descriptions. (SR)

Proposes that cues to action are important influences on self-protective behaviors (i.e., bicycle helmets for safety). Interviews parents of children between the ages of 5 and 18. Indicates that cues to action affect perceptions of threat but are unrelated to attitudes, intentions, or behaviors. (PA)

Develops an issue involvement moderated dual process model of choice shifts, from Chaiken's work on systematic and heuristic processing of persuasive messages. Compares the dual process model with persuasive arguments and social comparison models and finds it better fits the data. (SR)

Tests a model of interpersonal communication motives and the construct of validity of the Interpersonal Communication Motives Instrument (ICM). Finds that the ICM is differentially related to who people talk to, how people talk, and what people talk about. (SR)

Finds that involvement in the overall communication system did not contribute to the degree to which workers were informed about specific production and organizational issues but that the development of strong links with the mangers was associated with the acquisition of organizational knowledge, as was workers' leadership experience. (SR)