Nonverbal Behavior, Race, and Attitude Attributions

• Published in: Journal of experimental social psychology Vol. 32; no. 2; pp. 165 - 179
• Main Authors: Hart, Allen J., Morry, Marian M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Diego, CA Elsevier Inc 01-03-1996; Elsevier; Academic Press
• Subjects: Attitudes; Behavior; Biological and medical sciences; Experimental psychology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Non-verbal communication; Nonverbal communication; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Race; Social interaction; Social interactions. Communication. Group processes; Social psychology; Human; Social perception; Attitude; Social interaction; Race; Negroid; Social attribution; Non verbal communication; Black American; Caucasoid; Persuasion
• ISSN: 0022-1031; 1096-0465
• DOI: 10.1006/jesp.1996.0008

Participants viewed a videotape of either an African–American or White confederate delivering a freely chosen or assigned speech using high persuasive or low persuasive nonverbal behavior. Participants made stronger attitude attributions when speakers ostensibly had a choice about which speech to deliver than when speeches were assigned. Speakers using high persuasive nonverbal behavior (e.g., frequent eye contact, low self-touching, and few filler words) were rated as holding opinions more consonant with the speech than speakers using low persuasive nonverbal behavior. Attitude attributions about African–American speakers using high persuasive nonverbal behavior were more extreme than inferences about speakers in the other conditions. These results underscore the importance of including dynamic behavior and race when studying social interactions.