TY - JOUR
T1 - Relational uncertainty predicting appraisals of face threat in courtship
T2 - Integrating uncertainty reduction theory and politeness theory
AU - Knobloch, Leanne K.
AU - Satterlee, Kristen L.
AU - DiDomenico, Stephen M.
PY - 2010/6
Y1 - 2010/6
N2 - This article combines uncertainty reduction theory and politeness theory to deduce hypotheses about how relational uncertainty may predict appraisals of face threat. Participants were 273 individuals who (a) reported on relational uncertainty; (b) simulated leaving a voice mail message for their dating partner to address the assigned goal of catching up, sharing information, giving comfort, or receiving comfort; and (c) evaluated the face threats of their message. As expected, relational uncertainty was positively associated with appraisals of face threat, and it was negatively associated with the extremity of appraisals of face threat, even after judges' ratings of face management strategies were covaried. The article closes by discussing the implications for understanding relational uncertainty, politeness, and appraisals of face threat.
AB - This article combines uncertainty reduction theory and politeness theory to deduce hypotheses about how relational uncertainty may predict appraisals of face threat. Participants were 273 individuals who (a) reported on relational uncertainty; (b) simulated leaving a voice mail message for their dating partner to address the assigned goal of catching up, sharing information, giving comfort, or receiving comfort; and (c) evaluated the face threats of their message. As expected, relational uncertainty was positively associated with appraisals of face threat, and it was negatively associated with the extremity of appraisals of face threat, even after judges' ratings of face management strategies were covaried. The article closes by discussing the implications for understanding relational uncertainty, politeness, and appraisals of face threat.
KW - Courtship
KW - Face threat
KW - Politeness
KW - Relational uncertainty
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77952370989&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=77952370989&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/0093650210362527
DO - 10.1177/0093650210362527
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:77952370989
SN - 0093-6502
VL - 37
SP - 303
EP - 334
JO - Communication Research
JF - Communication Research
IS - 3
ER -