Abstract
Social confrontation is a particular kind of communication episode which may be initiated when one actor signals another actor that his or her behavior has violated (or is violating) a rule or expectation for appropriate conduct within the relationship or situation (Newell & Stutman, 1988). This paper explores the decision, structure and process of rehearsing for confrontation. Intensive interviews with 75 actors followed by a questionnaire administered to 99 others revealed that confronters maintain two strands of confrontative goals: strategic and performance goals. Strategic goals for confronters include (a) influence, (b) catharsis, (c) relational maintenance, (d) retribution, and (e) enhanced understanding of the other. While these goals lead to different tactical outcomes, actors also hold intentions related to performance goals. Two performance goals are of central concern to some actors: (a) the desire to be argumentatively complete, and (b) the desire to maintain the position of the confronter rather than the confrontee. An analysis of the data revealed that differences in goal configurations guided both the decision to rehearse and the process of this rehearsal.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Burke, R. J.: 1970, ‘Methods of Resolving Superior-subordinate Conflict: The Constructive Use of Subordinate Differences and Disagreements’, Organizational Behavior and Human Performance 5, 393–411.
Edwards, R., J. M. Honeycutt, and K. S. Zagacki: 1988, ‘Imagined Interaction as an Element of Social Cognition’, Western Journal of Speech Communication 52, 23–45.
Graham, J. A., M. Argyle, and A. Furnham: 1980, ‘The Goal Structure of Situations’, European Journal of Social Psychology 10, 345–366.
Jacobs, S. and S. Jackson: 1981, ‘Argument as a Natural Category: The Routine Grounds for Arguing in Conversation’, Western Journal of Speech Communication 45, 118–132.
Jones, R. E. and C. S. White: 1985, ‘Relationships Among Personality, Conflict Resolution Styles and Task Effectiveness’, Group and Organizational Studies 10, 152–167.
Lawrence, P. R. and J. W. Lorsch: 1967, Organization and Environment: Managing Differentiation and Integration, Cambridge, MA: Division of Research, Graduate School of Business Administration.
Lewis, S. A. and D. G. Pruitt: 1971, ‘Orientation, Aspiration Level and Communication Freedom in Integrative Bargaining’, Proceedings of the 79th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, 221–222.
Manis, J. G. and JB. N. Meltzer: 1978, Symbolic Interaction: A Reader in Social Psychology, Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
Mead, G. H.: 1934, Mind, Self and Society, Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Newell, S. E.: 1984, ‘Patterns of Social Confrontation’, paper presented at a meeting of the Speech Communication Association Convention, Chicago, IL.
Newell, S. E. and R. K. Stutman: 1982, ‘A Qualitative Approach to Social Confrontation: Identification of Constraints and Facilitators’, paper presented at a meeting of the Speech Communication Association Convention, Louisville, KY.
Newell, S. E. and R. K. Stutman: 1987, ‘The Expression of Dissatisfaction: When Does Complaint Count as Confrontation?’ in J. W. Wenzel (ed.), Argumentation and Critical Practices, Annandale, Virginia: Speech Communication Association.
Newell, S. E. and R. K. Stutman: 1988, ‘The Social Confrontation Episode’, Communication Monographs 55, 266–285.
Newell, S. E. and R. K. Stutman: 1989, ‘Perceived Situational Factors in the Decision to Confront: Facilitators and Constraints’, paper presented at a meeting of the International Communication Association, San Francisco.
Newell, S. E. and R. K. Stutman (in press), ‘Negotiating Confrontation: The Problematic Nature of Initiation and Response’, Research on Language and Social Interaction.
Pruitt, D. J. and S. A. Lewis: 1975, ‘Development of Integrative Solutions in Bilateral Negotiations’, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 31, 621–633.
Rosenblatt, P. C. and C. Meyer: 1986, ‘Imagined Interactions and the Family’, Family Relations 35, 319–324.
Schultz, J. W. and D. G. Pruitt: 1978, ‘The Effects of Mutual Concern on Joint Welfare’, Journal of Experimental Social Psychology 14, 480–492.
Sternberg, R. J. and D. M. Dobson: 1987, ‘Resolving Interpersonal Conflicts: An Analysis of Stylistic Consistency’, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 52, 794–812.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Stutman, R.K., Newell, S.E. Rehearsing for confrontation. Argumentation 4, 185–198 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00175422
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00175422