Article1978

The Effect of Looking Behavior on Perceptions of a Communicator's Credibility1

88 citations0/0 files storedJournal of Applied Social Psychology

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Deception detection and forensic psychology Jury Decision Making Processes Psychology of Social Influence

Abstract

A courtroom simulation technique was employed to examine the effects of a communicator's looking behavior on observers' perceptions of his credibility. Half of the subjects heard testimony presented on behalf of a defendent by a witness (one of three confederates) who was visually presented as either looking directly toward the target of his communication (gaze maintenance) or slightly downward (gaze aversion) while testifying. The other half of the subjects merely heard the audio portion of the testimony. The results indicated that witnesses who averted their gaze were perceived to be less credible and, ultimately, the defendant for whom they testified was judged as more likely to be guilty. These results are discussed in terms of their implications for research concerned with the communicative effects of visual behavior.

Citations in this library

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References

1965Eye-Contact, Distance and Affiliation 1974Detecting deception from the body or face.1965Visual behavior in a dyad as affected by interview content and sex of respondent.1968Effects of eye contact and verbal content on affective response to a dyadic interaction.

Cited by

2004Are Eyes Windows to a Deceiver's Soul? Children's Use of Another's Eye Gaze Cues in a Deceptive Situation.1983Deposition Testimony and the Surrogate Witness 2002The Status of Evidentiary and Procedural Innovations in Child Abuse Proceedings 2023Look me in the eyes: How direct address affects viewers’ experience of parasocial interaction and credibility?

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