An examination of interpersonal influence between peers

Interpersonal influence between peers is marked by the need to (1) maintain a positive image, (2) achieve instrumental or task goals, and (3) maintain interpersonal relations with one's partner. This investigation examined the process of balancing these three objectives or needs, and further examined the consequences associated with failure to balance all objectives. Peers were videotaped during an influence interaction, and their verbal strategies were coded by trained coders along a 5-dimensional scale. Verbal evaluations made by coders were correlated with self-report measures of (1) issue importance, (2) stress, (3) communication satisfaction, and (4) relational message interpretations. Correlation results indicate that while unsupported, there is a trend between stress and self-defense strategies, and between issue importance and other-accusation strategies. Results of hypotheses testing the correlation between communication satisfaction and relational message interpretations, and strategy usage were unsupported. Post-hoc analyses are offered