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Desire for control and communication-related personality variables
Peter D MacIntyre1, Leslie A Donovan
1University College of Cape Breton, P.O. Box 5300, Sydney, NS Canada B1P 6L2. peter_macintyre@uccb.ca
Psychological Reports
|May 25, 2004
Summary
University students with a higher desire for control showed increased willingness to communicate and higher self-perceived communication competence. This suggests control is a key motive influencing communication behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Communication Studies
- Social Psychology
Background:
- The desire for control is a fundamental human motive.
- Understanding motives behind communication behavior is crucial in social interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between desire for control and communication behaviors.
- To explore control as a potential motive for communication.
Main Methods:
- Survey research was conducted with 95 university students.
- Participants completed measures of desire for control, willingness to communicate, self-perceived communication competence, and communication apprehension.
Main Results:
- A significant positive correlation (r=.37) was found between desire for control and willingness to communicate.
- A significant positive correlation (r=.43) was found between desire for control and self-perceived communication competence.
- No significant correlation was found between desire for control and communication apprehension.
Conclusions:
- Desire for control acts as a significant motive for communication, influencing both the willingness to engage and perceived competence.
- Findings support the role of control motivation in shaping interpersonal communication dynamics.