Chapter 11 Interpersonal Influence

1. Inter-Act, 13th Edition Chapter 11 Interpersonal Influence

2. Chapter Objectives • Discuss the sources and principles of interpersonal power • Describe the processing of influence attempts • Describe the types of effective persuasive messages • Discuss how to form messages that assert our rights and preferences without damaging our relationships

3. Interpersonal Influence & Power Influence: The act of changing the attitudes or behaviors of others Power: The potential that you have to influence the attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors of someone else

4. Sources of Interpersonal Power • Coercive – perception that a person can harm us physically or psychologically • Reward – perception that a person can provide monetary, physical, or psychological benefits • Legitimate – power derived from being elected, selected, or holding a position of influence • Expert – power derived from having knowledge that partner does not • Referent – power derived from the respect and admiration of others

5. Principles of Power • Power is a perception, not a fact. • Power exists within a relationship. • Power is not inherently good nor bad. • The person with more power can make and break the rules for the relationship.

6. Persuasion Using verbal messages designed to influence the attitudes and behaviors of others

7. Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM) • Theory that people will use mental shortcuts or critical thinking skills when processing persuasive messages Peripheral vs. Central

8. ELM Peripheral Route CentralRoute • Automatic processing • Six heuristics guide behavior: • Reciprocity • Social proof • Liking • Authority • Consistency • Scarcity • Conscious processing • Critical thinking skills • We use when: • The issue is important • We feel capable of analyzing and understanding the issue

9. Persuading Extensive Processors • Quality of the reasoning • Relevant • Well supported • Meaningful • Source credibility • Competence (perception that the speaker is well qualified to provide accurate and reliable information) • Trustworthiness (dependable, honest, keep promises, act for the good of others more than for self) • Likability (congeniality, attractiveness, warmth, friendliness) • Honest emotional appeals • Effectiveness depends on mood/attitude of partner and word choice

10. Asserting Rights and Expectations • Passive – reluctant to state opinions, share feelings • Aggressive – lash out with little regard for the situation or for the feelings, needs, or rights of others • Passive-aggressive – exhibiting aggressive behavior by being unresponsive or stubborn or refusing to help • Assertive – truthfully expressing rights and needs while respecting others

11. Passive Approach • Concealing feelings rather than voicing rights and expectations • Usually ineffective • Causes • We may not believe we have rights • Fear that complaining will damage relationship • Lack self-esteem • Lack social skills to stand up for ourselves

12. Aggressive Approach • Name-calling, threatening, judging, faultfinding • Passive-aggressive behavior: messages indirectly express hostility (stubbornness, unresponsiveness, etc.) • Different from argumentativeness: defending our own ideas or attacking the reasoning of others while giving them respect

13. Social Media Flaming • Flaming: sending an aggressive message using social media Microsoft Office

14. Assertive Approach • Declaring and defending personal rights/expectations in clear, direct, and honest manner while respecting the rights of others • Focuses on interests of both parties • Being assertive involves risk that you will be perceived as aggressive.

15. Assertive Message Skills • Owning: Make “I” statements. • Describing behavior and feelings. • Doing positive and negative facework: • Be sensitive to the face needs of others. • Using appropriate nonverbal behaviors: • Maintain regular eye contact and a self-confident posture. • Use a firm but pleasant tone of voice.

16. Making a Complaint • Begin by doing facework. • Assume the violation was unintentional. • Describe what has happened that you believe violates your rights/expectations. • Explain why what has happened violates your rights/expectations. • Describe how you feel about what has happened. • Invite the person to comment on or paraphrase what you said.

17. Making a Request • Politely but directly describe what you want the other person to do. • Do facework. • Describe how the behavior violates your rights/expectations. • Offer an alternative to your partner’s unacceptable behavior. • Assume compliance and thank him or her.

18. Refusing a Request • Thank people for what they are asking you to do. • Directly own that you are not willing to agree to the request. • State a generalized reason for your refusal, but don’t feel obligated to disclose private thoughts. • When possible, offer an alternative.

19. Cultural Variations • Asian cultures are less likely to engage in assertiveness in an effort to maintain harmony. • In Latin and Hispanic societies the concept of “machismo” often guides male behavior that goes beyond assertiveness. • Assertive behavior is practiced primarily in Western cultures.

20. Extra Credit • P341, Observe and Analyze • For the next day or two, observe people and their behaviors. Make notes of situations in which you believe people behaved in passive, aggressive, and assertive ways. Which ways seemed to help people achieve what they wanted? Which ways seemed to maintain or even improve their interpersonal relationships with others?