ON LINKING SOCIAL PERFORMANCE WITH SOCIAL COMPETENCE: SOME RELATIONS BETWEEN COMMUNICATIVE STYLE AND ATTRIBUTIONS OF INTERPERSONAL ATTRACTIVENESS AND EFFECTIVENESS

Abstract

This paper attempts to explore the process of impression formation in initial interactions as a function of an individual's communicative style. Specifically, an attempt is made to identify relations between communication style and observers'perceptions of an interactant's interpersonal attractiveness and communicative effectiveness. Current literature pertaining to communicative competence and literature pertaining to communicator style are reviewed, and an attempt is made to demonstrate their interconnectedness. A precise method for the measurement of communicative/interactive style is described. Subsequently, a study designed to empirically assess the relation between style and perceived attractiveness and communicative effectiveness, in which the above measurement system was employed, is also described. The results indicate that there are at least two interactive styles which are related to two types of perceived attractiveness and effectiveness. The implications of the findings and some suggestions for future inquiry in the areas of communicative style and social competence are discussed.