Chapter 6: Expectancy Violations Theory

Who developed the original Nonverbal Expectancy Violations Theory?

Judee Burgoon

What is proxemics?

The study of how people use space.

Name the four zones of informal space according to Edward T. Hall.

Intimate (0-1.5 ft), Personal (1.5-4 ft), Social (4-12 ft), Public (over 12 ft).

What are the two competing needs humans have?

Affiliation and Personal Space.

What is the 'threat threshold' in the original theory?

The imagined outer boundary of a person's intimate space, which can trigger an arousal response when violated.

What is arousal?

A heightened physiological state of alertness.

How is valence defined in the original theory?

A positive or negative feeling in response to arousal (e.g., excitement vs. fear).

What key concept did Burgoon eliminate from the original theory?

The 'threat threshold.'

What is an expectancy based on?

Social norms and schemata (mental models of social routines).

How is an expectancy defined in the updated theory?

A prediction, not a desire.

What did Burgoon replace 'arousal' with?

The orienting response, a form of attention to something new or novel.

What two main factors determine the interpretation of a violation?

Communicator Reward Valence and Violation Valence.

What is Communicator Reward Valence (CRV)?

The perceived net positive or negative value of future interaction with the person who committed the violation.

What is Violation Valence?

The interpretation of the specific behavior itself as positive or negative.

How can a violation of social norms be positive?

If the Communicator Reward Valence and the Violation Valence are both positive, it can lead to a positive reaction (e.g., a friend moving closer to you, which you welcome).

Besides proxemics, what are some other contexts where Expectancy Violations Theory can be applied?

Violations of eye contact, social routines, or other social norms.

What is the result if an expectancy is violated and the interpretation is ambiguous?

The reaction depends on the Communicator Reward Valence and can be mixed.