The Role of Background Behavior in Televised Debates: Does Displaying Nonverbal Agreement and/or Disagreement Benefit Either Debater?

    Authors

    J. S. Seiter; H. Weger; A. Jensen;H. J. Kinzer

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    J. Soc. Psychol.

    Keywords

    debate; impression management; nonverbal communication; persuasion; television; MERE EXPOSURE; PERCEPTIONS; INTERRUPTIONS; CONVERSATION; CREDIBILITY; JUDGMENTS; VIOLATION; GENDER; Psychology, Social

    Abstract

    This study examined the effects of background nonverbal behavior displayed with the purpose of undermining one's opponent in televised debates. Students watched one of four versions of a televised debate. In each, while the speaking debater appeared on the main screen, subscreens displayed her nonspeaking opponent's background nonverbal behavior. In one version, the non-speaking debater remained "stone faced" during her opponent's speech, while in the other three she nonverbally displayed occasional disagreement, nearly constant disagreement, or both agreement and disagreement. After viewing the debates, students rated the debaters' credibility, appropriateness, objectivity, and debate skills, in addition to judging who won the debate. Analysis indicated that background nonverbal behavior influenced audience perceptions of debaters' credibility, appropriateness, objectivity, debate skill, and the extent to which the debate was won. These results suggest that adding nonverbal agreement to expressions of nonverbal disagreement do not reduce the negative impacts of communicating disagreement nonverbally during an opponent's speech and may in fact further decrease the audiences' perception of a debater's credibility and overall performance.

    Journal Title

    Journal of Social Psychology

    Volume

    150

    Issue/Number

    3

    Publication Date

    1-1-2010

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    278

    Last Page

    300

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000291853700004

    ISSN

    0022-4545

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