Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 2 of 2
Full-Text Articles in Arts and Humanities
The Role Of Background Behavior In Televised Debates: Does Displaying Nonverbal Agreement And/Or Disagreement Benefit Either Debater?, John S. Seiter, Harry Weger Jr., Andrea Jensen, Harold J. Kinzer
The Role Of Background Behavior In Televised Debates: Does Displaying Nonverbal Agreement And/Or Disagreement Benefit Either Debater?, John S. Seiter, Harry Weger Jr., Andrea Jensen, Harold J. Kinzer
Languages, Philosophy, and Communication Studies Faculty Publications
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 …
Strategies For Responding To Background Nonverbal Disparagement In Televised Political Debates: Effects On Audience Perceptions Of Argument Skill And Appropriateness, Harry Weger Jr., John S. Seiter, Kimberly A. Jacobs, Valerie Akbulut
Strategies For Responding To Background Nonverbal Disparagement In Televised Political Debates: Effects On Audience Perceptions Of Argument Skill And Appropriateness, Harry Weger Jr., John S. Seiter, Kimberly A. Jacobs, Valerie Akbulut
Languages, Philosophy, and Communication Studies Faculty Publications
412 participants watched a purported televised political debate between candidates for mayor. In each of six versions, one debater engaged in strong nonverbal disagreement during his opponents opening statement. The opponent then responded with one of six decreasingly polite attempts to stop the debater from engaging in the nonverbal behavior. Direct, but not personally attacking, responses resulted in higher levels of perceived argumentation effectiveness and appropriateness when compared to not responding to the nonverbal behavior.