Christopher Hajek

Communicative dynamics of police-civilian encounters: South African and American interethnic data

Research in the American West, China, and Taiwan has shown that officers’ communication accommodative practices (and attributed trust in them) can be more potent predictors of satisfaction with the police than are the sociodemographic characteristics of those judging. With Black and White respondents, this study continues this line of work in Louisiana and South Africa and tests a new model about the relationships among perceived officer accommodation, trust in the police, and reported voluntary compliance from civilians. In addition to an array of differences that emerged between nations and ethnicities, officer accommodativeness indirectly predicted civilian compliance through trust. The hypothesized model was partially supported and culturally-sensitive.

Communication and culture: Predictors of treatment adherence among Mexican immigrant patients:

This study examined communication and culture in clinicians’ interactions with Mexican immigrants in Texas. Specifically, we explore the unique interplay among levels of acculturation, beliefs about culturally-based medical practices, perceptions of medical encounters, and the likelihood of adherence to medical therapy recommendations from US providers. Results suggest that: (a) acculturation predicts perceptions of out-group membership in the patient-provider interaction; (b) beliefs about complementary and alternative medicine are negatively related to medical adherence; (c) quality of care mediates the relationship between physician accommodation and medical adherence; and (d) there exists a complex relationship between out-group perceptions and adherence.

Police-Civilian Interaction, Compliance, Accommodation, and Trust in an Intergroup Context: International Data

Abstract Prior cross-cultural research has produced models of police-civilian interaction that highlight the effect of officers’ communication accommodation and reported trust in police on attitudinal outcomes. The present study, conducted in Korea, Japan, Guam, and Canada and involving 684 university students, continued this program of research by testing a theoretical model exploring the influence of perceived police officer communication accommodation and reported trust in police on attitudes about compliance with police requests. Findings indicated that across study locations perceived police officer communication accommodation predicted trust in police which, in turn, predicted attitudes about compliance with police requests.

Accommodation and institutional talk: communicative dimensions of police-civilian interactions

Communication accommodation theory (CAT) has been described as one of the most prominent theories in communication in general (see Littlejohn & Foss, 2005; Tomsha & Hernandez, 2007) as well as in the social psychology of language in particular (Tracy & Haspel, 2004), and has currency in several disciplines (see Meyerhoff, 1998). Indeed, from its initial roots in accent, speech style, and bilingual modifications (see Sachdev & Giles, 2004), CAT has expanded into being an ‘interdisciplinary model of relational and identity processes in communicative interaction’ (Coupland & Jaworski, 1997, pp.241–242). Research has applied the theory (e.g., Coupland & Giles, 1988; Williams, Gallois & Pittam, 1999) in a wide variety of nations, cultures and languages; to study communication between different social groups (cultures, genders, generations and abilities); in different social and institutional contexts (in organizations, in the health care system, the courtroom, or simply the streets); and through different media (face-to-face interactions, but also radio, telephone, email, etc.). Although the majority of work has been conducted from neo-positivistic and experimental frameworks to enhance control of the variables being investigated, the methodologies and disciplines invoked have, nonetheless, been impressively broad (see Giles, 1984; Giles, Coupland & Coupland, 1991).

The impact of communication, attitudes, and acculturation on advance directives decision-making

ABSTRACT This study explores differences in communication about advance directives between European-Americans and Latinos. To highlight potential issues when communicating with patients about advance directives, we identify differences in communication and attitudes, and examine the role of acculturation in decisions about advance directives. Results reveal that Latinos were less likely than European-Americans to communicate about advance directives with providers and family members, and less likely to complete an advance directive.

Reported compliance in police-civilian encounters: The roles of accommodation and trust in Zimbabwe and the United States

Abstract Recent research has demonstrated that, for young adults, officers’ accommodative practices are potent predictors of civilians’ attributed trust in the police, and their perceived likelihood of compliance with police requests. The present study continued this line of work in the African nation of Zimbabwe and in the United States. Besides differences between nations, results revealed that for US participants, officer accommodativeness indirectly predicted civilian compliance through trust. For those in Zimbabwe, however, only direct relationships were found – between officer accommodation and civilian trust, and between accommodation and compliance. The theoretical and practical significance of these are discussed.

Gay Men at Midlife A Grounded Theory of Social Identity Management Through Linguistic Labeling and Intra- and Intergenerational Talk

This study draws on interview data, a grounded theoretical methodology, and social identity theory concepts to explore how early midlife gay men manage their age identities through the use of linguistic labels, intragenerational talk among peers, and intergenerational talk with younger gay men. Face-to-face, semistructured interviews were conducted with 40 ethnically and socioeconomically diverse early midlife gay men (aged 40-53) in four U.S. cities. Men discussed conversations between themselves and gay men in their 20s, as well as the nature of their age identities. Open and axial coding of the men’s intra- and intergroup language use and other communicative behavior—with attention to accompanying motivations for engaging in such talk and nonverbal expression—revealed a new grounded theory of social identity management. Similarities and extensions to social identity theory were discussed, as were the theory’s implications for understanding gay midlife.

Perceptions of Trust, Compliance and Accommodation in Police-Civilian Encounters: A Russian, Turkish and Americ an Cross-National Analysis

Research in Asia, South Africa, and the United States has produced models of police-civilian interaction that highlight the effect of officers’ communication accommodation on attitudinal outcomes. Specif ically, this research has demonstrated that of ficers’ accommodative practices are potent predictors of civilians’ attributed trust in police and their perceived likelihood of compliance with police requests. The present study continued this line of work in Russia, using Turkish and American comparison groups; 617 univ ersity students reported how accommodating they perceived police to be, the degree to which they trusted officers, and their inclinations to comply with them. In addition to intriguing differences that emerged between the nations, overall results revealed that officer accommodativeness indirectly predicted civilian compliance through trust. The hypothesized model was largely supported and culturally sensitive.

Distinguished … or dissonant: Gay male midlife identity as emergent in intergenerational communication with younger gay men

This article is based on semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis of stories of 40 early midlife gay men concerning their conversations with younger gay men. Utilizing the communication theory of identity (CTI) as a sensitizing framework, open and axial coding revealed three overarching themes: shifted perspective on gay identity, evolved performance of gay identity, and discord with gay cultural expectations. The findings contribute to broadened understandings of how gay men experience midlife, and these are discussed in light of key CTI concepts.

Social and psychological creativity in gay male midlife identity management

This study utilizes a qualitative thematic analysis methodology and a social identity theory framework to explore ways in which early midlife gay men report enhancing their social identities through social and psychological creativity. Face-to-face, semi-structured interviews were conducted with forty early midlife gay men (aged 40-53) in four US cities. Men discussed the collective and individual essences of their age and gay identities, including attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours that they embraced to self-enhance at midlife. These discussions emphasized differences from the younger gay outgroup, often in the context of intergenerational interaction. Identified were three strategies (and seven substrategies) that summarized the ways that interviewees constructed their identities in the interest of self-enhancement, specifically in the context of intergenerational comparisons with younger gay men. These strategies may be considered as extensions to social creativity strategies presented in Tajfel and Turners (Psychology of intergroup relations. Chicago, IL: Nelson, 1986: 7) social identity theory.