Expectancy Violation Theory

What if I told you these are the people responsible for this theory?

Maybe your thinking “this theory must be really cool”

Or.….

“This theory must be completely made up”

Either way,

that’s probably not what you expected

Your response to the unexpected poses

(the violation) is the basis of the theory

Expectancy violation theory explains responses to nonverbal behaviors

that break the norm for particular situations or relationships

How positively or negatively a violation or

communicator is viewed is called Valence

What? Violation doesn’t have to be a bad thing….

It’s a great way to study interpersonal communication

I’d say they’re communicating positively

So we understand why we take offense or enjoy unexpected changes in other’s behavior and how to deal with those changes.

Why pay this any attention???

And maybe avoid potential embarrassment

determining if the person committing the violations is liked or valued enough to ignore the violation is unique to those involved

However:

A different culture or sub-culture means different expectancies

Personality (introvert/extrovert, aggressive, detached) can shape the definition of violation as much as social norms

This theory can be applied to tons of interactions

friends

strangers

partners

first date

student/p

rofessor

roommates

Parent/child

Before you go…

It’s all about responding to unexpected nonverbal behavior

Used in Interpersonal Communication

Valence is a measure of how positive or negative

Expectancy theory explains the why and how of violations

April Richardson

asricha@clemson.edu