Nonverbal communication as a function of attribution in impression formation
- 1 November 1976
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis in Communication Monographs
- Vol. 43 (4) , 287-294
- https://doi.org/10.1080/03637757609375939
Abstract
Arguing that the function of nonverbal cues in social communication can be elucidated within an impression formation paradigm, this study tested two hypotheses. The first predicted that the dominant role of nonverbal cues in social exchange is restricted primarily to the attribution of attitudes and affect toward others. The second hypothesis predicted that if subjects were instructed to focus on either the person or the message in making their judgments of what was being communicated, they would discriminate between judgments of the speaker and of the speaker's explicitly staled message when the verbal and nonverbal cues were inconsistent. Clear support for the first hypothesis and partial support for the second were interpreted as suggesting that nonverbal cues in social communication are mediated through attributions concerning the character and intentions of the communicator.Keywords
This publication has 4 references indexed in Scilit:
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- Nonverbal Leakage and Clues to Deception†Psychiatry: Interpersonal & Biological Processes, 1969
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- Inference of attitudes from nonverbal communication in two channels.Journal of Consulting Psychology, 1967