Mekenzi Nelson

Comm 2050
Mid-Term
2-23-17
Mid-Term: Reel Paper

Introduction

I will be relating the expectancy violation theory with a beloved

movie. I will be using a few specific scene from the movie to depict
what expectancy violation is really like. Many people believe it is just
people getting in your personal space but it is much more than that. I
will give you a background of the movie, summary of the expectancy
violation theory, analysis of movie using the expectancy violation
theory, my theory recommendation.

Movie Background

The movie I chose is about a young girl named Moana, who is on

a quest to save her people. She finds this guy named Maui, who is a
demi god, to help her. The movie I am describing is obviously the
Disney movie Moana.

When Moana first meets Maui she is washed up on the beach

where Maui shape shifter, demigod of the wind and sea has been
stranded for the past 1,000 years. He sees her boat, which is her
territory, and tries to take it but is alarmed to see Moana there. Their
first encounter is an example of the violation of personal space.
Where Moana then is at intimate distance with Maui by grabbing him
by the ear and commanding him the help her restore the heart of Te
Fiti.

Theory Summary and Author Background

The theory I am using is the expectancy violation theory. To

figure out what expectancy violation theory is lets break it up.
Expectancies are thoughts and behaviors anticipated (West &
Turner, 2019, p.134). To violate is to break or to do something
abnormal or out of turn. Therefore with these two tings you can figure
that expectancy violation theory might have something to do with the
way people react when someone doesnt act an expected way in a
certain environment. They include judgments of what behaviors are
possible, feasible, appropriate, and typical for a particular setting,
purpose, and set of participants (Burgoon & Hale, 1988, p. 60).
This theory was developed by Judee Burgoon. The theory was
originally titled the nonverbal expectancy violation theory, but Burgoon
dropped the word nonverbal because the theory now examines issues
beyond the domain of nonverbal communication (West & Turner,
2019, p.130).
I chose this theory because I feel think that it is interesting to see
how people react when some one acts out of the normal behavior. Take
for example the elevator experiment. Where a person or group of
people face a different direction to see the reaction of the other
passengers. A university did this experiment and they describe it like
this,
A man and a women conformed when the elevator doors opened.
They remained backward for the duration of the one-floor ride
and then backed out of the elevator when it stopped. In other
cases, confused riders would turn backward and then ask if ,
perhaps, a second door existed that was going to open
somewhere else. Some riders turned only partially backward in
an apparent effort to satisfy both their everyday sensibilities and
their erg to conform("Bethany's elevator experiment a case of
backward research | Bethany Lutheran College," n.d.).

Analysis of Movie using Theory

In the movie, the first meeting between Moana and Moui is not a
typical one. This young girl is meeting a demigod for the first time and
she just wants him to take her to return the heart of Te Fiti. Imagine
how that would go if it was you. I would have so many questions; I
would even want him to sign something of mine so I would always
remember it. Maui is a demi god and he knows that he has fans and
people who look up to him. So he has expectations when meeting
people, he thinks they are always a fan of him. When Moana is trying
to introduce herself and explain why she is there Maui keeps
interrupting her when she says, Im here to and he says, Yes yes
of course of couse, Maui always has time for his fans. He them signs
her ore when thats not what she wanted.

Maui is used to being everyones hero but when he hears that he

is not her hero, he seems as though she said he was. He even says It
almost sounds like you dont like me, which is impossible. He is not
used to this kind of treatment from a mortal. He has certain
expectancies when he meets people, and in this encounter he is
experiencing violation valence. Violation valence is the positive or
negative assessment of an unexpected behavior (West & Turner,
2019, p.139). Maui then breaks into song saying your welcome and
listing off his many accomplishments.

The Expectancy Violations Theory helps us to see how Maui was

unprepared to hear that someone was not his fan and the he wasnt
their hero. He is used to being praised by people and this violated his
expectations when she said he was not her hero.

Maui is a prideful demigod who thinks every one loves him, and
because of his pride he was blindsided that not every one loves him.
Being prideful is an ineffective way of communicating. When people
are prideful and try to communicate they arent really listening
because they think they know everything because they think they are
better than everyone else. Moana effectively explained to Maui that he
was not her hero. By being so straightforward Maui actually heard her
and was surprised by it.

Theory Recommendation

Later in the movie it the two characters Moana and Maui are
disappointed that they cant return the stone bake to Te Fiti because
the lava monster, TaKa, cracked Mauis magical fishhook. Maui is down
about his hook being cracked and storms off leaving Moana by herself
to defeat TaKa. Moana attempts to return to the heart of Te Fiti but
discovers that Te Fiti is TeKa, only the opposite version. Te Fiti was one
a beautiful island but once the heart was stolen, Te Fiti turned into a
terrifying lava monster known as TaKa. This took both Moana and Maui
off guard. They had no idea Te Fiti and TaKa was the same person.

This situation is another great example of the expectancy

violation theory. Moana and Maui expected one thing but it turned out
to be another.

Conclusion

In conclusion people are in contact with expectancy violation

theory more than they realize. In general it is anything outside the
norm of things. Even something as simple as being treated a certain
way because you are famous. I loved using this example from the
movie at first I just used it because of the way she approached him but
as I studied the theory the more I realized that it was the reaction to
the way people do or say things. I hope this analogy has helped you
too. Your Welcome!

References

Bethany's elevator experiment a case of backward research | Bethany

Lutheran College. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.blc.edu/news/bethanys-elevator-experiment-case-
backward-research#.WK_DmrYrK8U

Burgoon, J. K., & Hale, J. L. (1988). Nonverbal expectancy violations:

Model elaboration and application to immediacy
behaviors. Communication Monographs, 55(1), 58-79.

West, R. L., & Turner, L. H. (2019). Expectancy Violation Theory.

In Introducing communication theory: Analysis and application.