Page 144 - Effective Communication Soft Skills Strategies For Success by Nitin Bhatnagar, Mamta Bhatnagar

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In communication, such individuals mostly indulge in monologue; they are
inner-directed and not outer-directed. Their preoccupied conversation is
termed as ‘conversational narcissism’.

Communicative Disposition

Individuals have certain dispositions in communication. We shall discuss two
of them—argumentativeness and verbal aggressiveness. Argumentativeness
is considered to be constructive as it involves an individuals’ willingness
to attack another’s arguments while defending his or her own position.
Compared to people lower in the skill of argumentativeness, highly argu-
mentative individuals are perceived as better decision makers as well as
more interesting, dynamic, competent, and credible. They are more resistant
to persuasive attempt; consequently, they are less likely to withdraw from
conflicting situations.
There is a difference between aggressiveness and argumentativeness.
Verbally aggressive people have lower communication and interpersonal
skills as well as low level of argumentative skills. They attack the self-concept
of others by threats with a motive to cause psychological pain.

Communication Apprehension

The most studied individual difference in the field of interpersonal commu-
nication has been communication apprehension. Communication appre-
hension is more interpersonally oriented.
Behaviourally, people with high levels of communication apprehension
are less likely to talk in social settings, and when they do participate, they
engage in mostly acknowledgements and confirmation. They also engage in
less eye contact and are more self-protective and disclose less. Perceptually,
they are seen less positively by others in a variety of settings, such as inter-
views and social interactions.
Apprehensive people are less assertive or argumentative, less conver-
sationally sensitive, and less independent. They have lower self-esteem, are
more insecure, not willing to take risk, and suffer from inferiority complex.
Not surprisingly, shy individuals suffer more from social isolation and more
emotional and psychosomatic health problems.
Developmentally, communication apprehension affects identity forma-
tion and it is inversely related to academic achievement and cognitive per-
formance. Occupationally, this disposition affects career development and
career choices, and apprehensive individuals are less likely to be successful
in positions that require communication like teaching.

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