Westem Journal of Speech Communication, 52 (Winter 1988), 23-45 Imagined Interaction as an Element of Social Cognition RENEE EDWARDS, JAMES M. HONEYCUTT, and KENNETH S. ZAGACKI The notion of "imagined interaction" is introduced as part ofthe social cognition process. Imagined interactions serve several functions including rehearsal for anticipated en- counters. Results ofa study indicate that imagined interactions tend to occur before real interactions, are dominated by the self, and are equally pleasant and unpleasant. Topics and partners are primarily relational. Imagined interactions may be dysfunctional for lonely individuals. Findings are related to theories of interpersonal communication and cognitive structuring, and implications for future studies are evaluated. A N ASSUMPTION GUIDING MUCH COMMUNICATION RESEARCH i s t h a t COm- /imunication behavior is accompanied by social cognition. It is clear, for example, that social actors organize ongoing communicative interac- tion (Duval & Wicklund, 1972; Turner, 1978; Snyder, 1974,1979; Taylor & Fiske, 1978). Likewise, communicators appear to actively construct their realities by employing cognitive attitude structures (Fishbein & Ajzen, 1975), implicit theories (Heider, 1958; Kelly, 1955; Schutz, 1932; Piaget, 1932; Wegner & Vallacher, 1977; Jones & Davis, 1965), and cognitive scripts or schemas (Schank & Abelson, 1977; Tesser, 1978; Tversky & Kahneman, 1980; Shweder, 1975). Research has also explored how communicators monitor various situational stimuli, matching message strategies to situational constraints prior to message sending (McLaughlin, Cody, & O'Hair, 1983; Sillars 1980). Other studies have explored the role of social cognition during deception (Greene, O'Hair, Cody, & Yen, 1985), initial interaction (Douglas, 1984), persuasion (Smith, 1982) and group decision-making (Poole, 1983). While this research has added to our general understanding of social cognition and its relationship to message production, interpretation Eind storage, little is known about the content of cognitive experiences preceding and following communicative encounters. This essay considers the role of "imagined interactions" in message selection and interpreta- tion. We suggest that the concept of imagined interaction captures a RENEE EDWARDS, JAMES M. HONEYCUTT, and KENNETH S. ZAGACKI are Assis- tant Pr(^es8ar8 of Speech Conununicatian, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, 70803. Author order is alphabetical.