Arousal change and cognitive labeling: Pursuing the mediators of intimacy exchange

In recent years a considerable amount of research on nonverbal behavior has focused on identifying patterns of exchange in the component behaviors of interpersonal intimacy. The rapidly developing empirical research, occasionally giving hope for some convergence in the results, has precipitated efforts at explaining the processes underlying the exchange of intimacy. This paper attempts to analyze issues surrounding two of the more promising mediators of intimacy exchange—arousal change and cognitive labeling. This speculative discussion is offered as a means of stimulating several specific and empirically testable questions which may promote our understanding of the intimacy exchange process.This article is a revision of a paper presented as part of a symposium on Nonverbal Intimacy and arousal: Theoretical approaches and issues at the American Psychological Association Convention, San Francisco August 1977. The author would like to express thanks to the other panel members—Jack Aiello, James Dabbs, Jr., Phoebe Ellsworth, Eric Knowles, and Steve Worchel—for their symposium participation which facilitated the evolution of this paper.