EXPECTANCY VIOLATIONS THEORY

Introduction to Communication Theories

By Anne Cortez | Adamson University

Discussion Outline

• Expectations and Experience

• Expectancy, Violation Valence, Communicator Reward

• Interaction Adaptation

• Summary

A B

Expectations dictate our experience.

Expectancy Violations Theory (EVT) - explains how people react when their expectations are violated

We have expectations about the behavior of another person based on social norms, our previous experience with the other person and the situation in which the behavior occurs.

Interpersonal Distances (Edward Hall) • Intimate distance : 0-18 inches • Personal distance : 18 inches - 4 feet • Social distance : 4 -10 feet • Public distance : 10 feet - infinity

What happens when expectations on interpersonal distances are violated?

Relational arousal - a heightened state of awareness, orienting response, or mental alertness that stimulates a review of the relationship

When your expectations are met, you don’t notice the behavior, but when they are violated, you become distracted by the behavior.

Core Concepts of Expectancy Violations Theory

EXPECTANCY VIOLATION VALENCE

COMMUNICATOR REWARD VALENCE

EXPECTANCY • What people predict will happen (rather than

what they desire) • Influenced by context, relationship, and

communicator characteristics

Context – culture and environment Relationship – similarity, familiarity, liking, and relative status Communicator characteristics- physical features, personality, communication style

VIOLATION VALENCE • The perceived positive or negative value

assigned to a breach of expectations, regardless of who the violator is

According to EVT, when expectancies are met, the other person’s behaviors are judged as positive and when they are violated, the behaviors are judged as negative.

What if the action is equivocal? When the meaning of an action is unclear, we interpret the violation in light of how the violator can affect our lives.

COMMUNICATOR REWARD VALENCE • Result of a mental audit of gains and losses • The sum of positive and negative attributes

brought to the encounter plus the potential to reward or punish in the future

What enhances a person’s reward potential? Status, ability, and good looks of the communicator. And the quality of the conversation itself.

How do we apply the Expectancy Violations Theory in our daily lives?

Interaction Adaptation Theory (IAT) A systematic analysis of how people adjust their approach when another’s behavior doesn’t mesh with what’s needed, anticipated, or preferred

Interaction position - A person’s initial stance toward an interaction as determined by a blend of personal requirements, expectations, and desires (RED)

Reciprocity - A strong human tendency to respond to another’s action with similar behavior

EXPECTANCY VIOLATIONS • Humans have expectations – verbal and non-

verbal like distance, eye contact, etc

• When expectancies are met, the other person’s behaviors are judged as positive and when they are violated, the behaviors are judged as negative

• Whether judged as good or bad, violations cause the perceiver to be relationally aroused

EXPECTANCY VIOLATIONS • When expectations are violated, you look to the

violator to evaluate the experience, calculate the gain and loss (violation and communicator reward valence) and predict future interactions

• We adjust our approach or interaction to manage and adapt to expectations

REFERENCES

Em Griffin, A First Look at Communication Theory, 2006. Stephen Littlejohn and Karen Foss, Communication Theory, 2010.

QUESTIONS?