NCJ Number
56026
Journal
ENVIRONMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY AND NONVERBAL BEHAVIOR Volume: 2 Issue: 3 Dated: (SPRING 1978) Pages: 167-180
Date Published
1978
Length
14 pages
Annotation
TWO STUDIES INDICATE THAT A PREDICTABLE IMPRESSION IS FORMED AS THE RESULT OF NONVERBAL CUES, REGARDLESS OF THE CAUSE OF THE CUES (IN THIS CASE SPATIAL INTRUSION) AND THAT THIS IMPRESSION MAY BE A MISINTERPRETATION.
Abstract
TWO VIDEOTAPES WERE PREPARED OF A BRIEF POLICE-CITIZEN ENCOUNTER. BOTH PERSONS WERE WHITE MALES, NEATLY DRESSED, IN THEIR TWENTIES. THE FIRST VIDEOTAPE RECREATED NONVERBAL CUES WHICH ARE COMMON WHEN A PERSON'S FEELING OF PRIVATE SPACE HAS BEEN INTRUDED (THAT IS, THE POLICE OFFICER WAS STANDING TOO CLOSE). THESE INCLUDED SPEAKING BRIEFLY IN A STACCATO FASHION, AVERTING THE GAZE, A HIGHER RATE OF EYE MOVEMENT, AND DEFENSIVE HAND GESTURES. THE SECOND TAPE SHOWED A MORE RELAXED SUBJECT NOT REACTING TO SPATIAL INTRUSION. SUBJECTS VIEWED EITHER THE SPATIAL INTRUSION TAPE (31 PERSONS) OR THE NONSPATIAL INTRUSION TAPE (29 PERSONS), AND ANSWERED QUESTIONS ABOUT A NUMBER OF CHARACTERISTICS. THE NERVOUS PERSON WAS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE LIKELY TO BE SEEN AS NOT TELLING THE TRUTH (P LESS THAN .01), WAS MORE LIKELY TO BE DESCRIBED AS A SUSPECT (P LESS THAN .01), AND WAS ALSO CALLED LESS EMOTIONALLY STABLE (P LESS THAN .001). A SECOND TEST WAS RUN IN WHICH THE OBSERVERS COULD SEE THAT THE OFFICER WAS STANDING QUITE CLOSE TO THE CITIZEN. THIS SITUATIONAL FACTOR WAS IGNORED AND THE PERSON WAS AGAIN DESCRIBED AS 'SUSPICIOUS'. IT IS URGED THAT POLICE OFFICERS AND OTHERS BE MADE AWARE OF SITUATIONAL FACTORS WHICH AFFECT NONVERBAL CUES. OTHERWISE, IT IS QUITE LIKELY THAT THESE CUES MAY BE MISINTERPRETED. STUDIES WHICH REPORT THAT POLICE OFFICERS DO FORM JUDGMENTS ON THE BASIS OF SUCH CUES ARE BRIEFLY CITED. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS APPENDED. (GLR)