Toward a Communication Model of Intergroup Interdependence

ABSTRACT

This article seeks to expand the theoretical base of intergroup communication by proposing a new model of interdependence. As a backdrop toward this end, historical and contemporary uses of the concept of interdependence are briefly reviewed across a range of different disciplines and research fields. Defining interdependence in terms of the embedded nature of groups, the foundations of a new communicative model of intergroup interdependence are introduced. Four propositions articulate how intergroup independence is associated with a variety of communicative outcomes. These outcomes include those relating to language attitudes, communication accommodations, and linguistic biases, together with the moderating conditions shaping the extent of these behavioral consequences. Finally, a diverse array of research questions that could fruitfully guide the future development of the model are suggested.