Reported Argumentativeness and Verbal Aggressiveness Levels: The Influence of Type of Argument

Abstract

Arguments in interpersonal relationships can be divided into two types: public issue arguments and personal issue arguments. This study examines the ability of type of argument, trait argumentativeness and verbal aggressiveness, and gender to predict reported argumentativeness and verbal aggressiveness levels related to a particular argument episode. Reported argumentativeness levels were higher in the public argument condition, and reported verbal aggressiveness levels were higher in the personal argument condition. Trait argumentativeness predicted reported argumentativeness levels better in the public argument condition than the personal argument condition, suggesting that type of argument may serve as a moderator for the relationship between trait argumentativeness levels and argument-specific argumentativeness levels. Implications for using these two scales to examine interpersonal argument are discussed.

Keywords:

• Argumentativeness
• Type of Argument
• Verbal Agressiveness

A previous version of this article was presented to the Interpersonal Communication Division of the National Communication Association for their annual meeting in Boston, November, 2005.

Notes

This manuscript was accepted by the previous editor, Professor Jim L. Query.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Amy Janan Johnson

Amy Janan Johnson (PhD, 1999, Michigan State University) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Oklahoma

Jennifer A. H. Becker

Jennifer A. H. Becker (PhD, 2005, University of Oklahoma) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Missouri, Columbia.

Shelley Wigley

Shelley Wigley (MS, 1999, Oklahoma State University) is an Assistant Professor in the College of Mass Communications at Texas Tech University.

Michel M. Haigh

Michel M. Haigh (PhD, 2006, University of Oklahoma) is an Assistant Professor in the College of Communications at the Pennsylvania State University.

Elizabeth A. Craig

Elizabeth A. Craig (MA, 2004, University of Oklahoma) is a doctoral student.