In search of a “sweet spot:” Can understanding how language influences intimidation maximize the quality of valued compliance?
Intimidation is often defined, received, and perceived pejoratively. The current study sets out to find a “sweet spot” in situations where intimidation cannot be avoided and compliance is the goal, where one can maximize compliance but keep fear as low as possible. This experimental study predicted...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Sciendo
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Psychology of Language and Communication |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.58734/plc-2023-0011 |
| _version_ | 1797340459867045888 |
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| author | Hansia Mohemmad Dunbar Norah E. Giles Howard |
| author_facet | Hansia Mohemmad Dunbar Norah E. Giles Howard |
| author_sort | Hansia Mohemmad |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Intimidation is often defined, received, and perceived pejoratively. The current study sets out to find a “sweet spot” in situations where intimidation cannot be avoided and compliance is the goal, where one can maximize compliance but keep fear as low as possible. This experimental study predicted that by lessening mean-spirited speech, a moderate amount of intimidation, as opposed to greater or lesser degrees of it, would produce more compliance with a request, positive interpersonal attributions, and communicative accommodations. The results supported the idea of such a “sweet spot” and implications for authority figures are considered and discussed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T10:02:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fe3c9b33b02f41a0b4d1092601b6351e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2083-8506 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T10:02:22Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Sciendo |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Psychology of Language and Communication |
| spelling | doaj.art-fe3c9b33b02f41a0b4d1092601b6351e2024-01-29T08:54:17ZengSciendoPsychology of Language and Communication2083-85062023-01-0127120822510.58734/plc-2023-0011In search of a “sweet spot:” Can understanding how language influences intimidation maximize the quality of valued compliance?Hansia Mohemmad0Dunbar Norah E.1Giles Howard21Department of Communication, University of California Santa Barbara, United States1Department of Communication, University of California Santa Barbara, United States1Department of Communication, University of California Santa Barbara, United StatesIntimidation is often defined, received, and perceived pejoratively. The current study sets out to find a “sweet spot” in situations where intimidation cannot be avoided and compliance is the goal, where one can maximize compliance but keep fear as low as possible. This experimental study predicted that by lessening mean-spirited speech, a moderate amount of intimidation, as opposed to greater or lesser degrees of it, would produce more compliance with a request, positive interpersonal attributions, and communicative accommodations. The results supported the idea of such a “sweet spot” and implications for authority figures are considered and discussed.https://doi.org/10.58734/plc-2023-0011intimidationcommunication accommodationattributionscompliance |
| spellingShingle | Hansia Mohemmad Dunbar Norah E. Giles Howard In search of a “sweet spot:” Can understanding how language influences intimidation maximize the quality of valued compliance? Psychology of Language and Communication intimidation communication accommodation attributions compliance |
| title | In search of a “sweet spot:” Can understanding how language influences intimidation maximize the quality of valued compliance? |
| title_full | In search of a “sweet spot:” Can understanding how language influences intimidation maximize the quality of valued compliance? |
| title_fullStr | In search of a “sweet spot:” Can understanding how language influences intimidation maximize the quality of valued compliance? |
| title_full_unstemmed | In search of a “sweet spot:” Can understanding how language influences intimidation maximize the quality of valued compliance? |
| title_short | In search of a “sweet spot:” Can understanding how language influences intimidation maximize the quality of valued compliance? |
| title_sort | in search of a sweet spot can understanding how language influences intimidation maximize the quality of valued compliance |
| topic | intimidation communication accommodation attributions compliance |
| url | https://doi.org/10.58734/plc-2023-0011 |
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