Compulsive Communication in the Classroom: Is the Talkaholic Teacher a Misbehaving Instructor? Robert J. Sidelinger & Derek M. Bolen From the frame of expectancy violations theory, we examined the associations between instructors’ compulsive communication and three instructor misbehaviors: irresponsi- bility, derisiveness, and apathy. Results revealed that students who perceived their instructors as compulsive communicators also perceived them as misbehaving. Next, we determined if nonverbal immediacy mediates the associations between instructors’ compulsive communication and instructor misbehaviors, as well as student affective learning. Results revealed that nonverbal immediacy partially mediated the relationships between compulsive communication and the misbehaviors of irresponsibility and apathy, and fully mediated the negative associations between compulsive communication and students’ affect for instructor and course. Keywords: Compulsive Communication; Expectancy Violations Theory; Instructor Misbehaviors; Nonverbal Immediacy Current higher education pedagogy centers on students’ active engagement in the classroom as a critical component to student success and retention (Strange & Banning, 2001). A paradigm shift transformed the classroom from instructor-centered, monologic instruction to dialogic instruction with students as active, involved parti- cipants (Huba & Freed, 2000). While lecture-based instruction has been criticized as Robert J. Sidelinger (EdD, West Virginia University, 2008) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication and Journalism at Oakland University. Derek M. Bolen (PhD, Wayne State University, 2012) is an Assistant Professor and Graduate Director in the Department of Communication and Mass Media at Angelo State University. An earlier version of this manuscript was presented at the 2013 National Communi- cation Association annual meeting. The authors wish to thank Beth Talbert for the initial idea that prompted this study’s development. Correspondence to: Robert J. Sidelinger, Department of Communication and Journal- ism, Oakland University, 316 Wilson Hall, Rochester, MI 48309, USA. E-mail: sideling@oakland.edu Western Journal of Communication Vol. 79, No. 2, March–April 2015, pp. 174–196 ISSN 1057-0314 (print)/ISSN 1745-1027 (online) # 2015 Western States Communication Association DOI: 10.1080/10570314.2014.943416