Date of Graduation

2003

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

MA

Committee Chair

Scott A. Myers

Abstract

This study examined the influence of birth order on verbal aggressiveness and argumentativeness. Participants were 207 (111 men, 94 women; M age = 19.80) students. Participants completed the Verbal Aggressiveness Scale (Infante & Wigley, 1986) and the Argumentativeness Scale (Infante & Rancer, 1982). Results indicated first-born children reported significantly more argumentativeness than did youngest children. Men reported significantly more verbal aggressiveness and argumentativeness than females. A significant difference did not exist between the verbal aggressiveness of first-born children, only-children, and laterborn children. Future research should compare siblings’ reports of verbal aggressiveness, argumentativeness, and other salient communication behaviors to assess differing communicative outcomes based on individuals’ order of birth.

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