| Description |
Previous research on the social dynamics of nonverbal communication has shown individuals who display nonverbal behaviors signaling dominance often elicit complementary responses of submissiveness from their partners. This interpersonal dynamic involving the nonverbal exchange of dominance cues, referred to as dominance complementarity, has been found to facilitate greater comfort in dyadic interactions compared with nonverbal mimicry (e.g., becoming dominant in response to dominance). People who become submissive to nonverbal expressions of dominance tend to be viewed as more likable by their partners, and in addition, dominance complementarity has been found to promote and enhance outcomes resulting from various social processes. For example, dyads who engage in dominance complementarity share more information with each other, and as a result, achieve higher levels of cooperation and are more likely to seek out mutually beneficial agreements and discover integrative solutions. However, prior studies on these social benefits have only examined the effects and outcomes of dominance complementarity within same-gender dyads. Therefore, the current paper examines the nonverbal dynamics of dominance complementarity and mimicry occurring during mixed-gender social interactions. Additionally, this research also examines antecedents to men's displays of dominance towards women, and develops a conceptual model of nonverbal interpersonal dynamics within a mixed-gender dyadic context. In particular, this model proposes men's endorsements of both benevolent and hostile sexist attitudes influence their propensity to exhibit dominance cues communicating men's social control over women. This model also illustrates that women's nonverbal responses to male partners' dominance through their adoption of either dominance complementarity (i.e., becoming submissive) or nonverbal mimicry (i.e., becoming dominant) are affected by men's concurrent displays of nonverbal cues indicating a desire for social affiliation. This conceptual model and corresponding hypotheses are empirically tested across three studies. Theoretical and practical implications of findings from this research and directions for future studies on the dynamics of nonverbal communication between men and women are discussed. |
