Expectancy Violation Theory - Essay Example

Expectancy Violation Theory Expectancy violation theory is one of the communication theories that explain the unexpected or unprecedented behaviors of people in the process of interacting. The theory assumes that the uncertainty or the vagueness of the behaviors is reduced when individuals interact with others. In daily life, people predict certain behaviors in the process of interacting and the violation of the prediction is seen as negative or positive. This may depend on the relationship between people.

In many cases, people would always predict what others think as per their behaviors. As people communicate, they create expectations on how the receiver or others will react to what they say. The violation of such expectations leads to a negative or positive perception. Expectancy violation theory values personal space as it is described as the boundary that individuals keep and freedom is given to those people who are close. People expect personal space with those they interact with and as per the shared relationship.

Because of this, people tend to protect their personal space in events that they experience a violation in the expected behavior. Moreover, the expectancy of people is determined by many factors that influence the personal space. For instance, interactant characteristics are a factor that determines the expectancy in people. They include age, sex, and personality traits that one may poses. Interpersonal characteristics also determine it, and they include the relationship between the speaker and the receiver.

Lastly, the environment plays a role in relation to cultural influence and social situations. The above factors influence the interaction of individual, which influence the relationship they will establish. One example to describe the expectancy violation theory is when one expects a gym instructor to be rough and harsh. This will make one chilly and would minimize interaction and even leave going to the gym. However, the relationship will be established when one finds out that the gym instructor is calm and gently behaves.

Under this circumstance, the unexpected behavior influences the degree of continuing to communicate or not. Therefore, the individual who goes to the gym will establish a positive relationship and communicate. The second example is about two students who write and publish articles on the behaviors of the teachers in their school as well as the evil taking place in the school. The article goes viral and blows out of expectations. The students are worried and called by the school’s headteacher in the office.

The students expect punishment or suspension because they talked ill about the school contrary to the expected values demanded from them. However, the head teacher was happy about the school’s performance in the hockey tournament and called them for a chat. After reading the article, the head teacher decides to select the two students to the school’s editorial team for their creativity. The head teacher’s reaction was unexpected and turns out to be positive thereby promoting the creativity of the students in exposing the evils in the school.

In conclusion, expectancy violation theory brings the expectation of the unexpected words, behaviors, or actions of an individual. It helps individuals establish a relationship in case the interaction is positive. Similarly, the theory is important in studying the existing interpersonal relationships between individuals. Work Cited Communication Theory. Expectancy violation theory. 2010. Online