Expectancy Violation Theory Essay
Expectancy Violation Theory and Sexual Resistance in Close, Cross-Sex Relationships
Jennifer L. Bevan
Although previous research has suggested a link between sexual resistance and the violation of the resisted partner’s expectations, communication scholars have yet to utilize expectancy violation theory in a sexual resistance context. As such, the current study examines the resisted individual’s perception of sexual resistance message directness and relational context in terms of three aspects of expectancy violations: violation valence, violation importance, and violation expectedness (Afifi & Metts, 1998). Findings indicate that participants view hypothetical sexual resistance from a long-term dating partner as a more negative and …show more content…
For message directness, direct sexual resistance was interpreted as
78
COMMUNICATION MONOGRAPHS
significantly more important to the relationship than indirect resistance. No variations in violation valence or expectedness were observed for message directness.
Afifi and Metts (1998) report conceptual distinctness between violation importance and violation expectedness; the current results replicate this difference and extend it to the realm of sexual resistance. Yet, Afifi and Metts did not assess similarities between violation valence and the other two violation aspects. The present findings indicate that, in sexual resistance situations, patterns for violation valence and unexpectedness are similar to one another and both are distinct from violation importance. Whether these associations between the violation aspects are unique to the sexual resistance situation or consistent across contexts is unknown.
Other expectancy violations (i.e., the support and confirmation or acts of devotion violation types described by Afifi & Metts) might be positive but unexpected and thus be conceptually distinct under different circumstances. Future research should attempt to extend the relationships found here into these different communication
Jennifer L. Bevan
Although previous research has suggested a link between sexual resistance and the violation of the resisted partner’s expectations, communication scholars have yet to utilize expectancy violation theory in a sexual resistance context. As such, the current study examines the resisted individual’s perception of sexual resistance message directness and relational context in terms of three aspects of expectancy violations: violation valence, violation importance, and violation expectedness (Afifi & Metts, 1998). Findings indicate that participants view hypothetical sexual resistance from a long-term dating partner as a more negative and …show more content…
For message directness, direct sexual resistance was interpreted as
78
COMMUNICATION MONOGRAPHS
significantly more important to the relationship than indirect resistance. No variations in violation valence or expectedness were observed for message directness.
Afifi and Metts (1998) report conceptual distinctness between violation importance and violation expectedness; the current results replicate this difference and extend it to the realm of sexual resistance. Yet, Afifi and Metts did not assess similarities between violation valence and the other two violation aspects. The present findings indicate that, in sexual resistance situations, patterns for violation valence and unexpectedness are similar to one another and both are distinct from violation importance. Whether these associations between the violation aspects are unique to the sexual resistance situation or consistent across contexts is unknown.
Other expectancy violations (i.e., the support and confirmation or acts of devotion violation types described by Afifi & Metts) might be positive but unexpected and thus be conceptually distinct under different circumstances. Future research should attempt to extend the relationships found here into these different communication