A research note on supportive and defensive communication: An empirical study of three verbal interpersonal communication variables

Abstract

The concepts of supportive and defensive affective states are ubiquitous in the field of interpersonal communication, but rarely have any specific verbal causes of these states been examined. This study investigates the effect on supportiveness and defensiveness of three verbal variables: (1) provisional versus certainty verbs, (2) positive versus negative feedback content, and (3) ownership of statements by the use of “I‐You” pronoun constructions. The study found that provisional verbs are seen as more supportive in negative statements and certainty verbs more supportive in positive statements, positive feedback produces more supportiveness than negative, and literal “I‐You” pronoun constructions are seen as mare supportive in both positive and negative statements. No difference was seen in subjects on the basis of gender.