EXPERIENTIAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL-RESPONSES TO INTERPERSONAL INFLUENCE

In this study, we examined the linkages between two important features of influence messages, explicitness and dominance, and emotional resp onse. Two positions were considered. From politeness theory, we deduce d that judgments of the politeness of the message would mediate the ef fects of message form on emotional response. Consideration of cognitiv e appraisal theories suggested judgments of goal blockage and legitima cy would assume the role of mediators. Participants took part in two r ole-plays in which they adopted the role of the influence target and l istened to an audiotape of a request to change their behavior. Self-re port and physiological data were gathered as indicators of their emoti onal responses to the influence messages. The findings indicated some support for both politeness and appraisal theories, but also suggested that neither one constituted a thorough explanation of the effects of influence messages on emotions.