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Impression management

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Responses To An Opponent’S Nonverbal Behavior In A Televised Debate: Audience Perceptions Of Credibility And Likeability, Harry Weger Jr., John S. Seiter, Kimberly A. Jacobs, Valerie Akbulut Jan 2013

Responses To An Opponent’S Nonverbal Behavior In A Televised Debate: Audience Perceptions Of Credibility And Likeability, Harry Weger Jr., John S. Seiter, Kimberly A. Jacobs, Valerie Akbulut

Languages, Philosophy, and Communication Studies Faculty Publications

This study examined audience perceptions of a political candidate’s credibility and likeability as a function of varying the candidate’s responses to an opponent’s nonverbal disparagement during a televised debate. 412 participants watched a purported televised debate between candidates for mayor in a small city in Utah. In all six versions, one debater engaged in strong nonverbal disagreement during his opponent’s opening statement. His opponent responded to the nonverbal behavior with one of six decreasingly polite messages. Results indicated that more direct (i.e., less polite) messages increased audience perceptions of the speaker’s expertise and character compared to providing no response. The …


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 Sep 2010

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 …


Nonsmoker’S Perceptions Of Male And Female Cigarette Smokers’ Credibility, Likeability, Attractiveness, Considerateness, Cleanliness, And Healthiness, John S. Seiter, Harry Weger Jr., Mandy L. Merrill, R. Mark Mckenna, Matthew L. Sanders Apr 2010

Nonsmoker’S Perceptions Of Male And Female Cigarette Smokers’ Credibility, Likeability, Attractiveness, Considerateness, Cleanliness, And Healthiness, John S. Seiter, Harry Weger Jr., Mandy L. Merrill, R. Mark Mckenna, Matthew L. Sanders

Languages, Philosophy, and Communication Studies Faculty Publications

This study examined perceptions of male and female models depicted smoking or not smoking cigarettes. Undergraduate students viewed photographs of smoking or nonsmoking models and then rated the models' credibility, homophily, attractiveness, likeability, considerateness, cleanliness, and healthiness. Analysis indicated that being viewed as a cigarette smoker damaged people's images. With the exception of two dimensions of credibility, smokers, compared to nonsmokers, were rated less favorably on every variable examined in this study. These results are discussed.


Impression Management In Televised Debates: The Effect Of Background Nonverbal Behavior On Audience Perceptions Of Debaters’ Likeability, John S. Seiter, Harry Weger Jr., Harold J. Kinzer, Andrea Sandry Jensen Jan 2009

Impression Management In Televised Debates: The Effect Of Background Nonverbal Behavior On Audience Perceptions Of Debaters’ Likeability, John S. Seiter, Harry Weger Jr., Harold J. Kinzer, Andrea Sandry Jensen

Languages, Philosophy, and Communication Studies Faculty Publications

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.