Planning, Imagined Interaction, and the Nonverbal Display of Anxiety

Abstract

Berger's (1995) planning theory has spawned research on the tactical variations that individuals use to influence others, to disseminate information, and to react to opposition to plans. However, the effect of planning on anxiety has not been tested. The current study examined one nonverbal indicator of anxiety in this study, the use of object adaptors. In addition, research on imagined interactions (IIs) has revealed that individuals imagine conversations with significant others for a variety of reasons, including rehearsal for anticipated messages and the alleviation of anxiety. The current study also examined the effects of planning for an anticiapted encounter and the level of discrepancy that individuals report they have in their IIs on the use of object adaptors. The findings are discussed in terms of spontaneous helplessness, plan efficacy, and the accretion of plan strategies in response to encounters that are discrepant from what was anticipated.