A brief overview of Expectancy Violation Theory

1. Expectancy Violation Theory

2. What if I told you these are the people responsible for this theory?

3. Maybe your thinking “this theory must be really cool” Or.…. “This theory must be completely made up”

4. Either way, that’s probably not what you expected

5. Your response to the unexpected poses (the violation) is the basis of the theory Expectancy violation theory explains responses to nonverbal behaviors that break the norm for particular situations or relationships

6. How positively or negatively a violation or communicator is viewed is called Valence What? Violation doesn’t have to be a bad thing….

7. It’s a great way to study interpersonal communication I’d say they’re communicating positively

8. Why pay this any attention??? So we understand why we take offense or enjoy unexpected changes in other’s behavior and how to deal with those changes. And maybe avoid potential embarrassment

9. However: determining if the person committing the violations is liked or valued enough to ignore the violation is unique to those involved A different culture or sub-culture means different expectancies Personality (introvert/extrovert, aggressive, detached) can shape the definition of violation as much as social norms

10. This theory can be applied to tons of interactions friends partners student/professor strangers first date roommates Parent/child

11. Before you go… It’s all about responding to unexpected nonverbal behavior Valence is a measure of how positive or negative Used in Interpersonal Communication Expectancy theory explains the why and how of violations

12. April Richardson asricha@clemson.edu