Verbal immediacy as a behavioral indicator of open communication content

Abstract

This paper integrates the constructs of open communication and verbal immediacy. The rationale is based on a need for a microscopic criterion for assessing open communication content in on‐going interaction. A behavioral measure of verbal immediacy was used to analyze the communication content for 26 married adults. Verbal immediacy was found to be significantly related to observers' assessments and self assessments of open communication content and style behaviors. A structural analysis of the correlations indicated that assessment of verbal immediacy provides pertinent information about open communication. Conceptual and methodological implications are suggested.