Deck 7: Expectancy Violations Theory

Question 1

The invisible "bubble" that surrounds individuals and is used to define one's preferred distance from others is known as

A) territoriality
B) the proxemic zone
C) personal space
D) affiliative space

Answer 1

personal space

Question 2

Social distance usually ranges from _________ to _________.

A) 12 feet; beyond
B) 18 inches; 4 feet
C) 0 inches; 18 inches
D) 4 feet; 12 feet

Answer 2

4 feet; 12 feet

Question 3

Which of the personal space zones is described as typically being reserved for family and close friends?

A) intimate
B) personal
C) social
D) public

Answer 3

personal

Question 4

All of the following statements about Expectancy Violations Theory (EVT) are true EXCEPT

A) expectations for personal space and distance in conversations have received considerable attention in the study of expectancy violations
B) EVT was initially developed to examine the influence of nonverbal communication on message production
C) the focus of EVT lies in examining the impact that deviations from expectations for others' behaviors have on the communication process
D) people typically are uncertain about what to expect with regard to the verbal and nonverbal behaviors of others

Question 5

The debate team meets in the same classroom each week to discuss upcoming tournaments and to rehearse their presentations. They have the room reserved for their use from 6 to 10 every Tuesday and Thursday night. This room represents which type of territory for them?

A) primary
B) secondary
C) public
D) tertiary

Question 6

_________ refer(s) to the positive or negative characteristics that an individual brings to an interaction.

A) Implicit expectancies
B) Explicit expectancies
C) Communicator reward valence
D) Arousal

Question 7

All of the following are assumptions of Expectancy Violations Theory identified by the authors EXCEPT

A) Expectancies for human behavior are learned.
B) Expectancies for human behavior are frequently incorrect.
C) Expectancies drive human interaction.
D) People make predictions about nonverbal behavior.

Question 8

Acts by high-reward sources are typically assigned _________ meanings; the same act performed by a low-reward source may be assigned a _________ meaning.

A) positive/positive
B) positive/negative
C) negative/positive
D) negative/negative

Question 9

Nancy has learned that it is important for her to maintain a social distance of personal space from her supervisor when communicating face-to-face. She also makes an effort to look her supervisor directly in the eye during interactions. These behaviors reflect Nancy's _________ expectations.

A) pre-interactional
B) post-interactional
C) interactional
D) conversational

Question 10

Holly finds herself moving back when communicating with her friend Lui, who is from Saudi Arabia, because he seems to insist on standing within 18 inches of her when talking. Which type of arousal is Holly experiencing?

A) cognitive
B) physical
C) behavioral
D) spatial

Question 11

The consequences that result from deviations from expected behaviors are known as

A) arousal
B) threat threshold
C) violation valence
D) expectancies

Question 12

Which approach to knowing characterizes the research undertaken using EVT?

A) ontological
B) interpretive/hermeneutic
C) positivistic/empirical
D) critical

Question 13

Expectancy Violations Theory has been criticized due to its

A) lack of attention to age differences in expectancies
B) reliance on self-report measures for arousal
C) homogeneity of expectancies
D) inconsistencies in expectancies

Question 14

When we are not clear in our ability to evaluate a violation positively or negatively, we use _________ as a measure for the intensity of the violation.

A) communicator reward valence
B) prior experience
C) threat threshold
D) arousal

Question 15

Expectancy Violations Theory is grounded primarily in the _________ and _________ contexts of communication.

A) intrapersonal/interpersonal
B) organizational/intrapersonal
C) interpersonal/public
D) intercultural/small group

Question 16

When an individual becomes cognitively or physically aroused by an expectancy violation, that individual will likely

A) feel romantically attracted to the violator
B) automatically assign a negative meaning to the violation
C) become more focused on the violation than the message itself
D) all of these

Question 17

Which communication tradition is most closely associated with Expectancy Violations Theory?

A) critical
B) socio-psychological
C) empirical
D) socio-cultural

Question 18

Athena isn't usually bothered by distance violations of others, which is something Artemis cannot understand. When someone comes within a distance Artemis considers "too close for comfort," she becomes angry and starts inching away from the person. Athena and Artemis differ greatly in their

A) violation valence
B) intimate distance
C) perception of arousal
D) threat threshold

Question 19

Expectancy violations are always evaluated negatively.

Question 20

We frequently lay claim to various spatial areas that we want to protect or defend.

Question 21

If we like a person, it is likely that we will positively evaluate most violations of expectancies.

Question 22

Pre-interactional expectations refer to a person's ability to carry out the interaction itself.

Question 23

Personal distance typically ranges from 0 to 18 inches.

Question 24

Territory that is the exclusive domain of an individual is known as primary territory.

Question 25

Cultural norms may influence our expectancies.

Question 26

When arousal occurs, we tend to pay more attention to the message in order to understand the source of the arousal.

Question 27

EVT is often criticized because it has not led to research on a variety of topics.

Question 28

Describe the four zones of personal space identified by Hall. Be sure to include the space regulations for each zone, as well as the type of communication that typically takes place in each zone.

Question 29

Provide an example of an expectancy violation that you have experienced. Define communicator reward valence, and discuss the extent to which this factor influenced your evaluation of the violation.

Question 30

Differentiate between primary, secondary, and public territories. Provide an example of each, and list an expectancy that you have for each of these territories in your own life.

Question 31

Distinguish between cognitive and physical arousal. Provide an example of each type of arousal that you have experienced as a result of a specific expectancy violation.

Question 32

Throughout this course, cultural variables have been emphasized as a critical dimension of human communication. Address the issue of culture as it relates to Expectancy Violations Theory. What role do cultural variables play in this theory? Does EVT do a sufficient job of addressing these variables? Why or why not?

Question 33

Using the standard criteria for theory evaluation, critique Expectancy Violations Theory.

Question 34

How would you go about testing EVT with respect to an area of nonverbal communication other than use of space? Provide a hypothesis or research question, and describe how you would go about studying that particular nonverbal phenomenon.

Question 35

How would you go about testing EVT with respect to an area of verbal communication? Provide a hypothesis or research question, and describe how you would go about studying that particular verbal phenomenon.

Question 36

Generally speaking we tend to associate the term "violation"
with negative consequences. According to EVT are violations always bad? Is it possible for violations to be perceived in a positive way? Why or why not? In your response be sure to support your position with information from the text and use an example to illustrate your thesis.