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Impact of assertive and accusatory communication of distress and anger: A verbal component analysis
Author(s) -
Kubany Edward S.,
Richard David C.,
Bauer Gordon B.,
Muraoka Miles Y.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
aggressive behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.223
H-Index - 92
eISSN - 1098-2337
pISSN - 0096-140X
DOI - 10.1002/1098-2337(1992)18:5<337::aid-ab2480180503>3.0.co;2-k
Subject(s) - anger , assertiveness , psychology , aggression , distress , social psychology , verbal aggression , nonverbal communication , emotional distress , developmental psychology , clinical psychology , poison control , human factors and ergonomics , anxiety , psychiatry , environmental health , medicine
Forty undergraduate women were asked to imagine discussing an important problem in their relationship with a personally close partner and to rate likely emotional and behavioral reactions to four kinds of statements: 1) assertive communication of distress, 2) assertive communication of anger, 3) accusatory communication of distress, and 4) accusatory communication of anger. Accusatory “you” statements were rated as more aversive and evoked more negative emotional and behavioral response inclinations than did assertive “I” messages. Statements including “anger” words evoked more negative emotional and behavioral response inclinations than statements including “distress” words. Findings were related to research on cue‐controlled aggression and the work of Staats, which predicts ways that verbal labels (language) exert control over emotions and behavior.