The Relationship Between Powerless Speech,Agentic Behavior,and Amount of Talk

Abstract

In this experiment, the relationship between powerless speech, agentic behavior (task initiation), and amount of talk in an interaction was examined. Participants were 104 British students paired for discussion either with a professor (low-status condition) or with another student (same-status condition). The results showed no significant relationship between a powerless speech style and the initiation of discussion questions. Also, there was generally no significant relationship between the use of powerless speech style and amount of talk produced, except among female students: Female participants who engaged in powerless speech most frequently spoke fewer words. A significant positive relationship was found between those who initiated questions most frequently and spoke the most words.