Channel Choice as a Relational Message

Abstract

The process of communicating relational meaning is complex and involves the interplay of relational goals, messages, and frames. Relational meaning is often sent through nonverbal cues, which are important sources of social meaning and exist in many forms. This study addressed multiple components of the relational meaning process. First, it explored channel selection as a potential nonverbal cue that can carry relational meaning. Second, it investigated the role of nonverbal cues in the activation and displacement of relational frames. Findings in this study suggest that people consider channel selection to be a nonverbal cue born from the relational goal of affinity/disaffinity. Additionally, the data suggest there may be a relationship between nonverbal cues and relational frame activation.