Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between assertiveness and such physiological features as heart rate and vocal inflections(pitch and intensity). The vocal data were assessed from a first person simulation in which participants interacted with video-based characters. During the simulation, the participants' partner (friend, family member, or acquaintance) completed inventories that asked their perceptions of the participant's assertiveness and aggressiveness for the scenes. Results found heart rate and mean intensity of speech were unique indicators of peer-rated aggressiveness. Also, standard deviation in pitch and heart rate accounted for unique variance in peer-rated assertiveness. The results suggest that physiological and verbal measures may be a useful means of distinguishing between assertiveness and aggressiveness of team members.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Boersma

Weenink

(2005). Praat: doing phonetics by computer (Version 4.3.14) [Computer program]. Retrieved Jan 10, 2007, from http://www.praat.org/.

Breitenstein

Lancker

D.V.

Daum

(2001) The contribution of speech rate and pitch variation to the perception of vocal emotions in a German and an American sample. Cognition and Emotion, 15(1), 57–79.

Bugental

D. E.

Henker

Whalen

C. K.

(1976). Attributional antecedents of verbal and vocal assertiveness. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 34, 405–411.

Butcher

J. N.

Perry

J. N.

Atlis

M. A.

(2000). Validity and utility of computer-based test inter-. pretation. Psychological Assessment, 12, 6–18.

Eisler

Miller

Hersen

Components of assertive behavior. Journal of Clinical Psychology. 1973 Jul;29(3):295–299.

Funke

Schuler

(1998). Validity of Stimulus and Response Components in a Video Test of Social Competence. International Journal of Selection and Assessment, 6(2), 115 123.

Kimble

C.E.

Seidel

S.D.

(1973). Vocal signs of confidence. Behavioral assessment, 15, (2), 99–105.

Koloktin

R. A.

Wielkiewicz

R. M.

Judd

Weiser

(1984). Behavioral components of assertion: Comparison of univariate and multivariate assessment strategies. Behavioral assessment, 6, (1), 61–78.

Milanovich

D. M.

Driskell

J. E.

Stout

R. J.

Salas

(1998). Status and cockpit dynamics: A review and empirical study. Group Dynamics, 2(3), 1 13.

10.

Norton-Ford

J. D.

Hogan

D. R.

(1980). Role of nonverbal behaviors in social judgments of peers' assertiveness. Psychological Reports, 46, 1085 1086.

11.

Scherer

K.R.

(1978). Personality inference form voice quality: The loud voice of extroversion. European Journal of Social Psychology, 8, 467 487.

12.

Smith-Jentsch

K.A.

Salas

Baker

D.P.

(1996). Training team performance-related assertiveness. Personnel Psychology, 49, 909 936.

13.

Smith-Jenstch

K.A.

Salas

Brannick

M.T.

(2001). To Transfer of not to transfer?: Investigating the combined effects of trainee characteristics, team leader support and team climate. Journal of Applied Psychology, 86(2). 279–292.

Vocal Analysis and Heart Rate as Measures of Assertiveness and Aggression

Abstract

Get full access to this article

References