For my research analysis, the article I chose to review is about clothing and teacher credibility, which applies the expectancy violations theory. Many studies have been created to show how instructor attire effects a student’s perceptions. However, no studies have taken into the account the instructor’s character. Expectancy Violations Theory, which is also known as EVT, explains how both societal and individual expectations contribute to reactions to those whose behavior deviates from his or her expectations. There are five basic premises of Expectancy violations theory:
We have expectancies regarding how we think others should/will behave in interactions.
Interaction partner may conform to or deviate from our expectancies (i.e. violating them).
When our expectancies are violated, emotional/physiological arousal occurs.
This arousal prompts us to evaluate the valence of the violation--whether the violation itself is positive or negative.
If it’s clearly positive, then that is a positive expectancy violation--we will evaluate the violator more positively.
If it’s clearly negative, this is a negative expectancy violation-we will evaluate the violator more negatively.
If the behavior isn’t clearly positive or negative, we need to consider...
The valence of the person who violated our expectancies--how you feel about the violator includes his or her power to reward or punish you.
`If it’s a likable and or high power source, this is a positive expectancy violation.
If it is an unlikeable and or low power source, then this is a negative expectancy violation. Clothing behavior is an area where we can apply EVT. We make judgements about others in everyday interaction based on their clothing. We hold expectations for what we think is appropriate attire, what certain types of dress mean, and what it means to us when they violate our social norms of what we