Final answer:
Hostile communication creates mistrust and conflict, and is influenced by individual dispositions and cultural differences. Differentiating between aggressive and hostile communication is important to understand the intent behind the behaviour. Cultural sensitivity in communication can mitigate hostility and promote more effective interpersonal interactions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hostile communication is communication that creates mistrust, hostility, or hurt and indicates a desire for conflict rather than cooperation. This type of communication often arises from a hostile disposition, where individuals may exhibit a cynical or distrustful attitude toward others, promoting antagonistic behavior. Such interactions can lead to complementary reactions from others, thereby intensifying a person's hostile disposition and perpetuating a cycle of hostility, as reported in the transactional model of hostility (Vella et al., 2012).
In understanding verbal communication, it is important to consider cultural, gender, age, and individual influences. Workplaces, for example, strive for a balance between directness and diplomacy in communication. Yet, this balance can be challenging to maintain, with the potential for misinterpretation and a slide towards hostile exchanges.
The term aggressive communication is sometimes misconstrued or used interchangeably with hostility, but it is important to differentiate the two. Aggressive communication may be an attempt to harm or pain someone, but when it is driven by feelings of anger and the intent to cause pain, it is specifically considered hostile aggression. This is in contrast to instrumental aggression, where the motivation is to achieve a goal without the specific intent to cause pain (Berkowitz, 1993).
Communication styles also differ among racial groups, which can result in miscommunication when not properly understood or addressed—particularly in educational settings. For example, African Americans may communicate more assertively than European Americans, leading to potential misinterpretation and ineffective communication. Cultural sensitivity and understanding are essential in preventing hostile communication and fostering positive interpersonal engagement.