The effect of content and demeanor on reactions to dominance behavior

    Authors

    J. E. Driskell;E. Salas

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Group Dyn.-Theory Res. Pract.

    Keywords

    TASK GROUPS; NONVERBAL BEHAVIOR; INFLUENCE TACTICS; GENDER; CONSEQUENCES; EXPECTATIONS; LEADERSHIP; CUES; Psychology, Social

    Abstract

    Dominance behavior, the attempt to direct or control others through threat, has been shown to be a generally ineffective influence tactic and results in negative affective reactions and evaluations from others. However, the nonverbal expression of dominance can be distinguished from dominant message content, and the authors propose that the nonverbal component of dominance (demeanor) may more readily convey feelings of threat and result in stronger negative reactions than the verbal component (content). Participants rated statements that varied in terms of neutral or dominant content and whether they were presented with neutral or dominant demeanor. The results indicated that both dominant content and dominant demeanor resulted in negative affective reactions and lower evaluations of competence and leadership. Results further indicated that dominant expressive behavior contributed more to the observer's negative reactions than did dominant content.

    Journal Title

    Group Dynamics-Theory Research and Practice

    Volume

    9

    Issue/Number

    1

    Publication Date

    1-1-2005

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    3

    Last Page

    14

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000227796600001

    ISSN

    1089-2699

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