Abstract
The effects of individuals' assertiveness and sex on dominant behaviors in arguing, mixed-sex dyads were examined in this study. The primary dominant behaviors investigated were (1) visual dominance behavior, (2) talking time, and (3) speech loudness. Subjects' assertiveness was determined by pretesting with the Rathus Assertiveness Schedule. Then dyads consisting of an assertive or an unassertive man and an assertive or an unassertive woman were videotaped as they argued an issue. Measures derived from the tapes indicated that men talked more and louder than women did, as expected. Also, the hypotheses that assertive individuals would talk more and louder than unassertive ones were supported with some qualifications. However, only the assertiveness of women was associated with higher visual dominance patterns. Men's assertiveness had no influence on their visual behavior. Men paired with assertive women had lower visual dominance patterns than men paired with unassertive ones. Also, women showed another form of visual dominance, looking while speaking, more than men did. These results were compared with earlier studies of the behavior of women and men in same-sex and mixed-sex dyads and groups and in structured and unstructured discussion situations.
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