Faculty of Mass and CommunicationMaster of Mass and Communication

COM 710: Communication theories

Expectancy Violations Theory

Lecturer Name:Dr Mariah Muda

Student Names1. Zaifirra Fahanna Bt Zainuddin20132563382. Mohd Alifata Bin Baharuddin 20134381043. Mohd Alif Bin Jasni 2012526485

To understand nonverbal communication and

its effect on messages in conversation theory Suggest that people hold expectation about

non verbal behavior of others.

Expectancy Violations Theory

Intimate Distance • This zone

include behavior that exist in a range encompassing 0-18 inch

Personal Distance• This zone

include behavior that exist in an area ranging from 18-4 feet.

• Reserved for family and friend

Social Distance• Spatial

zone of 4-12 feet, reserved for more formal relationships such as those with co- worker

Public Distance• Spatial

zone of 12 feet and beyond, reserved for very formal discussion such as between professor and student in class

Space Relation

Primary Territories• Signal a person’s

exclusive domain over an area or object

•Secondary Territories• Signal a person’s

affiliation with and area or objectPrimary Territories

• Signal open space for everyone, including beaches and parks

TerritorialityTerritoriality: Person’s ownership of an area object

Expectancies drive human interaction Expectancies for human behavior are learned People make prediction about nonverbal

behavior

Assumptions of Expectancy Violations

Theory

Expectancies can be defined as the cognition and behaviors anticipated and prescribed in a conversation with other person.

Two type of Expectancies: Pre interactional expectations: the knowledge or

skills a communicator brings to an interaction. Interactional expectations: Pertain to an

individual’s ability to carry out the interaction itself.

Increased interest or attention when

deviations fom expectation occur "arousal value" (Burgoon, 1978,p.133) -

deviation from expectations have consequences.

When arousal occurs, one's interest or attention to the deviation increases and one pay less attention to thee message and more attention to the source of the arousal (La Poire & Burgoon 1996)

AROUSAL

Burgoon and Hale (1988) termed this as

"mental alertness" or an "orienting response", in which attention is diverted toward the source of the deviation.

arousal divided into two catogories: cognitive arousal physical arousal

Cont'd

mental awareness of deviations from

expectations An alertness or an orientation to a violation It is the process of learning. When we are cognitive aroused, our intuitive

senses become heightened.

Cognitive arousal

Bodily changes as a result of deviations from

expectations. Includes those behaviors that a communicator

employs during an interaction - such as moving out of uncomfortable speaking distances, adjusting one's stance during an interaction.

Physical arousal

Second key concept associated with EVT Burgoon (1978) defines : distance at which an

interactant experiences physical and physiological discomfort by the presence of another" (p.130)

The threat threshold is a tolerance for distance violations.

Threat Threshold

Burgoon say : when distance is equated with

threat, closer distances are perceived as more threatening and farther distances as less threatening (p.134).

Distance is interpreted as a statement of threat from a communication

People may either reward or punish a threat.

cont'd

This research suggests that closer distances

are reserved for people we like or to whom we are attracted.

Some people dont mind when others stand close to them: their thread threshold is high

Others become very uncomfortable around those who stand close ; the threat threshold is low.

cont'd

Violation Valence

When people speak to others they have expectation.

Many of these expectations are based on social norms of other person.

When expectations are violated, however many people evaluate the violation on a valence.

Violation valence refers to the positive or negative assessment of an unexpected behaviour.

cont'd

Violation valence focuses on the deviation of an expectation.

If for instance, a professor is speaking very close to you, you may interpret the behaviour as an expression of superiority or intimidation.

Consequently, the violation valence would be negative.

Communicator Reward Valence.

What happens when our expectations are not met in a conversation with another?

Burgoon believes that when people depart or deviate, from expectations, how the deviation is received depends on the reward potential of others.

Communicator can offer each other a number of rewards, including smiles, head nods, physical attractiveness, attitude similarity, socioeconomic status, and competence.

cont'd

Burgoons holds that the concept of reward includes a number of characteristic that allow a person to be viewed favourably or unfavourably.

Finally cultural differences influence perceptions of eye contact.

Conclusion

Expectancy Violations Theory is one of the few theories specifically focussing on what people expect and their reaction to others in conversation.

The assumptions and core concepts clearly demonstrate the importance of nonverbal messages and information processing.

EVT also enhances our understanding of how expectation influence conversational distance.

The theory uncover what takes place in the minds of communicator and how communicator nonverbal behaviour during their conversations.