1. Expectancy Violations Theory
Judee Burgoon

2. Nutshell Description
Individuals develop expectations of other people’s behavior
Expectations can be fulfilled (normative, expected communication behaviors) or violated
EVT is interested in what happens when expectancies are violated
Variables of interest: attitude (liking, satisfaction), behavior (compliance)

3. Key Ideas An expectancy is something that is predicted to occur.
Expectancies are based on context/cultural norms, relationship factors, and communicator characteristics
All cultures have a structure of expected communication behaviors, but the content can differ significantly

4. Communicators and expectancy violations both have reward valence
Positive valence: Good
Negative valence: Bad

5. Communicator reward valence: sum of the positive and negative attributes that the person brings to the encounter plus the potential she/he has to reward or punish in the future
Spouse, boss, bratty kid brother, physician, etc.

6. Violation valence: perceived value of a breach of expectations
Some violations are clearly negative or positive (although dependent on context and culture!); first date: flowers/candy versus being late
Some violations are equivocal; touch

7. Guidelines
When a behavior has “socially recognized” and agreed upon meaning:
If valence is negative, do less than expected
If valence is positive, do more than expected
If behavior is ambiguous, communicator valence is particularly important