Title

Impression Management In Televised Debates: The Effect Of Background Nonverbal Behavior On Audience Perceptions Of Debaters' Likeability

Keywords

Debate; Impression Management; Liking; Nonverbal Communication; Person Perception

Abstract

This study examined whether a debater's background nonverbal behavior affected audience perceptions of her and her opponent's likeability. Students watched one of four versions of a televised debate. In each, while the speaking debater appeared on the main screen, subscreens displayed her opponent's background nonverbal behavior. In one version, the nonspeaking debater displayed a neutral expression, whereas in the others she displayed occasional disagreement, nearly constant disagreement, or both agreement and disagreement. After viewing the debates, students rated the debaters' likeability. Analysis indicated that background behavior influenced perceptions of the nonverbal communicator but not of the speaking debater. © 2009, Eastern Communication Association.

Publication Date

1-1-2009

Publication Title

Communication Research Reports

Volume

26

Issue

1

Number of Pages

1-11

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1080/08824090802636959

Socpus ID

77953860720 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/77953860720

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS