<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Intimidation is often defined, received, and perceived pejoratively. The current study sets out to find a “sweet spot” in situations where intimidation cannot be avoided and compliance is the goal, where one can maximize compliance but keep fear as low as possible. This experimental study predicted that by lessening mean-spirited speech, a moderate amount of intimidation, as opposed to greater or lesser degrees of it, would produce more compliance with a request, positive interpersonal attributions, and communicative accommodations. The results supported the idea of such a “sweet spot” and implications for authority figures are considered and discussed.</p>
</abstract>

Intimidation is often defined, received, and perceived pejoratively. The current study sets out to find a “sweet spot” in situations where intimidation cannot be avoided and compliance is the goal, where one can maximize compliance but keep fear as low as possible. This experimental study predicted that by lessening mean-spirited speech, a moderate amount of intimidation, as opposed to greater or lesser degrees of it, would produce more compliance with a request, positive interpersonal attributions, and communicative accommodations. The results supported the idea of such a “sweet spot” and implications for authority figures are considered and discussed.

In search of a “sweet spot:” Can understanding how language influences intimidation maximize the quality of valued compliance?

Psychology of Language and Communication

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Intimidation is often defined, received, and perceived pejoratively. The current study sets out to find a “sweet spot” in situations where intimidation cannot...

In search of a “sweet spot:” Can understanding how language influences intimidation maximize the quality of valued compliance?

Published Online: Apr 06, 2023

Page range: 208 - 225

DOI: https://doi.org/10.58734/plc-2023-0011

Keywords
intimidation, communication accommodation, attributions, compliance

© 2023 Mohemmad Hansia et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

In search of a “sweet spot:” Can understanding how language influences intimidation maximize the quality of valued compliance?

Published Online: Apr 06, 2023

Page range: 208 - 225

DOI: https://doi.org/10.58734/plc-2023-0011

Keywordsintimidation, communication accommodation, attributions, compliance

© 2023 Mohemmad Hansia et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
intimidation, communication accommodation, attributions, compliance