THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TRAIT AND STATE COMMUNICATION APPREHENSION AND INTERPERSONAL PERCEPTIONS DURING ACQUAINTANCE STAGES

The primary purpose of the research was to examine the effect of trait and state communication apprehension on interpersonal perceptions (credibility, attraction, and opinion leadership) during initial and later acquaintance stages of dyadic linkages. The results of the investigation indicated that the results of previously reported simulated studies may not generalize to real, interacting dyads. Trait CA was found to account for little variance in interpersonal perceptions. However, state CA was found to be a potent predictor of such perceptions, particularly in a later stage of acquaintance. It was found that trait and state CA were significantly correlated in the early acquaintance stage, but were unrelated at a later stage. It was also found that state CA did not decline as a function of length of acquaintance, nor did interpersonal perceptions become more positive as a function of increased interaction.