Theodore A. Avtgis ( Ph.D. , Kent State University ) is an associate professor of communication at West Virginia University. He teaches research methods, communication theory, organizational communication, interpersonal communication, training and development, communication personality, and small group communication. Ted's research focuses on the impact of personality on relationships and relational outcomes. More specifically, the influence of argumentative and aggressive communication in the workplace and within the family. He has published in Communication Education, Management Communication Quarterly, Communication Research Reports, among other places.

"This is the first book to discuss the history, research and application of the positive and deleterious communication traits of argumentation and verbal aggressiveness. The handbook's clear style makes it accessible to any intelligent, motivated, critically analytical reader or educated layperson: from undergraduates and graduates, to teachers and researchers on any level, to those in the applied world, such as practicing psychologists and, of course counselors, managers, and politicians. Even secondary and tertiary school teachers ought to convey certain information to their students to prepare them for life."

Research and study in argumentative communication has been one of the most dominant lines of communication research for the past two decades. Argumentative and Aggressive Communication: Theory, Research, and Application is the first textbook entirely devoted to the theory-building, research, and application issues on aggressive communication. In addition to fully describing the two predispositions and their measurement, it synthesizes the large corpus of research in several communication contexts, including family, organizational, intercultural, instructional, and mediated contexts. It provides prescriptions for managing aggressive communication in these contexts. A final chapter provides conclusions drawn from this literature, as well as offers suggestions for future work on aggressive communication. Key Features: First textbook to explore argumentativeness and verbal aggressiveness--two communication traits that, research shows, influence both perceptions and behaviors. Part I discusses the origin and structure of argumentative and aggressive communication; Part II explores the function of argumentative and aggressive communication in various contexts (e.g., family, interpersonal, organizational, intercultural, instructional, mediated); Part III provides material on enhancing communicative outcomes through improved understanding of argumentative and aggressive communication processes. Includes eight valid and reliable scales in the Appendix to measure argumentative and aggressive communication so that students learn how to use and read these research instruments Suggests guidelines on how to approach conflict and disagreement across multiple contexts in a constructive fashion Contains suggestions for future research on argumentative and aggressive communication from ten distinguished communication scholars

Part I: The Structure and Origin of Argumentative and Aggressive Communication 1. What are Argumentative and Aggressive Communication? Introduction The Genesis of the Theory of Argumentative and Aggressive Communication Purpose of This Book The Importance of Communication Traits What are Communication Traits? What is Aggressive Communication? Constructive Aggressive Communication Traits Categories of Trait Argumentativeness Destructive Aggressive Communication Traits Causes of Verbal Aggressiveness Argumentative and Aggressive Communication Traits and Personality Theory The Dimensions of Personality The Relationship Between Temperament and Aggressive Communication Traits Conclusion Discussion Questions for
Chapter 1 2. Measuring Individual Differences in Argumentative and Agressive Communication Measuring the Argumentative and Verbal Aggressiveness Traits The Development of the Argumentative Scale The Development of the Verbal Aggressivness Scale Challenges to the Scales Critiques of the Argumentativeness Scale Critiques of the Verbal Aggressiveness Scale Alternative Methods of Assessing Argumentative and Aggressive Communication Assessing Beliefs About Argumentative and Aggressive Communication Conclusion Discussion Questions for Chapter 2 3. Trait, State, and Interactionist Approaches to Studying Argumentative and Aggressive Communication The Trait Perspective on Argumentative and Aggressive Communication The Situationist Perspective on Argumentative and Aggressive Communication Situational Factors: Topic and Topic Salience Situational Factors: The Adversary's Attributes Argument Topic Context and Characteristics as Situational Influences The Interactionist Approach to Argumentative and Aggressive Communication Conclusion Discussion Questions for Chapter 3

Part II: The Function of Argumentative and Aggressive Communication 4. Argumentative and Aggressive Communication in Relational and Family Contexts Argumentativeness and Verbal Aggressiveness in General Interpersonal Relationships Friendship Relationships Dating Relationships Family Relationships Marital Relationships Argumentativeness, Verbal Aggressiveness, and Interspousal Violence Sibling Pairs Parent-Child Dyads Conclusion Discussion Questions for
Chapter 4 5. Argumentative and Aggressive Communication in Organizational Contexts Organizational Satisfaction Argumentativeness, Verbal Aggressiveness and Satisfaction Argumentativeness, Verbal Aggressiveness and Gender Differences in the Organization Argumentativeness, Verbal Aggressiveness and Other Organizational Constructs Conclusion Discussion Questions for
Chapter 5 6. Argumentative and Verbally Aggressive Communication in Instructional Contexts The Influence of Instructor Trait Argumentativeness The Influence of Instructor Trait Verbal Aggressiveness The Influence of Instructor Use of Verbally Aggressive Messages Characteristics of the Argumentative Student Conclusion Discussion Questions for Chapter 6 7. Argumentative and Aggressive Communication in Intercultural and Intracultural Contexts Co-Cultural Differences in Argumentative and Verbal Aggressiveness Regional Differences in Argumentativeness and Verbal Aggressiveness West Meets West East Meets West Conclusion Discussion Questions for Chapter 7 8. Argumentative and Aggressive Communication in Mass and Mediated Communication Social Learning, the Media and Aggression Television Situation Comedies Comparing Sitcoms to Other Television Genres Televised Wrestling Music Other Mediated Communication Research Conclusion Discussion Questions for Chapter 8 9. Argumentative and Aggressive Communication in Persuasion and Social Influence Situations An Orientation to