PROACTIVE AND RETROACTIVE ATTRIBUTION PROCESSES IN INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS1

The purpose of the present series of studies was to investigate the process of proactive and retroactive attribution in ongoing communication transactions. This objective was accomplished by studying the ways in which information disclosed early in the relationship is used (1) to form predictions concerning the probable attitudes of the other person, and (2) to explain subsequent communication behavior as the relationship progresses. Experiment I revealed that perceived background similarity led to predictions of attitude similarity. Experiments II and III found that consistency between early information and later behavior led to the utilization of early information to explain later behavior. These findings were discussed in terms of uncertainty reduction during initial interaction.