The influence of argumentativeness and verbal aggression on responses to refused requests

This study examines the influence that argumentativeness and verbal aggression exert on the types of appeals individuals purport to use in responding to refusals of interpersonal requests. Results suggest positive relationships between argumentativeness and reports of evidentiary appeals and between verbal aggression and reports of nonevidentiary appeals. The interaction of verbal aggression and argumentativeness was not a significant predictor of reports of evidentiary appeals but did predict reports of nonevidentiary appeals. The discussion addresses differences in the types of appeals reported by argumentative and verbally aggressive individuals and concludes with implications for further research.