The Effects of Attribution and Predisposition

A study examined the means by which inferences and emotions combine to motivate conflict escalation in response to nonverbal displays of status. Subjects, 64 male and 105 female volunteers enrolled in communication courses at a university located in the northeastern part of the United States, completed a verbal aggressiveness scale and a personal report of communication apprehension during the first few weeks of the semester. During the last few weeks of the semester, subjects completed questionnaires that assessed attributions, anger, and preferences for particular conflict management behaviors. Results indicated that: (1) verbally aggressive individuals were more likely to prefer negative conflict behaviors than less aggressive individuals and that the preference had little to do with feelings of anger; (2) even a single nonverbal display of status can increase the likelihood of a purposiv