What´s Interaction Adaptation Theory?

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I. Introduction:
Have you watched the Big Bang Theory? Have you noticed how awesome they are? There are multiple shows that could have been chosen to cover this theory. But I feel the Big bang theory has some pretty good examples. They have some pretty interesting interactions with each other. They talk in scientific terms and sometime have to dumb it down for Penny. But today let’s talk about a scene between Sheldon and Penny, and how it relates to the Interaction Adaptation Theory. Throughout the paper, I will give a summary of theory, a quick synopsis, and implications of the scene.
II. Summary of Interaction Adaptation Theory:
The book definition is it’s a theory that suggests individuals simultaneously adapt their communication behaviors to the communication behavior of others. This means when one person says something the other person tries to understand the message by adapting to their communication style. It is probably the most common thing in interactions between humans. . “Broadly construed as the modification of one’s behaviorto adjust to one’s communication partner(s), interpersonal adaptation has beendescribed as accommodation (Gallois, Ogay, & Giles, 2005; Giles, Coupland, & Coupland, 1991), mimicry (Chartrand & Bargh, 1999; Scheflen, 1964), reciprocity(Burgoon, Stern, & Dillman, 1995; Burgoon & White, 1997), synchrony (Bernieri,Reznick, & Rosenthal, 1988; Condon & Ogston, 1966), or style matching (Niederhoffer & Pennebaker, 2002; Scissors, Gill, Geraghty, & Gergle, 2009).”(C.L Toma Pg.156) This theory is used to understand the process of adaption. This theory can be used to predict if the listener understands the speaker. The IAT says everyone enters an interaction with requirements, expectations, and desires. The requirements mean the needs during the interaction like speaking louder or closer to the speaker. The expectations mean what to expect based on past experience or general communication, etc. And desires are the preferences and goals of the interaction. These things combine to form a speaker’s interaction position. “This determines the receiver’s behavior will be reciprocated or compensated.” (C.L. Toma 161)
III. Synopsis:
Characters in the Scene - Sheldon and Penny
Idea – Penny is adapting Sheldon’s problem with her personal experience
The clip comes from the hit TV Show, The Big Bang Theory. In this scene Sheldon and Penny are having a conversation. Sheldon is sad over the string theory and Penny is listening. Penny then tells him to move and then she compares it to her own personal experience. I will be focusing on the adaptation theory.

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