John E. Hocking

Nonverbal Indicators of Deception: A New Theoretical Perspective.

This study tested a theory of nonverbal behavior during deception. The theory is based on ability to monitor and ability to control nonverbal behaviors. The nonverbal behaviors of sixteen criminal justice students were coded during lying and truthing. Results lend limited support to the theory: (1) Contrary to earlier theories, this theory predicted that easily monitored and controlled gestures would be less frequent among liars than among truthers. This prediction was generally confirmed. (2) As predicted, liars exhibited greater vocal nervousness than did. truthers. (3) The pattern of differences, even where differences were nonsignificant, generally supports the theory.

Effects of self‐monitoring and familiarity on deception detection 1

This study investigated the effects of familiarity and self‐monitoring on observer accuracy in deception detection. Observers varying in self‐reported self‐monitoring made judgments of truthfulness or lying after either exposure or no exposure to segments of a communicators truthful behavior. Results indicated that observers familiar with a communicators truthful behavior were significantly more accurate than those who were not; that accuracy increased significantly as self‐reported self‐monitoring increased; and that there was no significant interaction between self‐monitoring and familiarity.

Strategies of Redemption at the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial.

The Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial in Washington, D.C. creates a unique opportunity for the critic to investigate the cycle of guilt and redemption set in motion by the Vietnam War. The Memorial serves as a call to eloquence, prompting many visitors to leave messages. The form of the message is determined by the individuals choice of redemptive ritual. The interplay of authors’ goals and strategies is reflected in messages which pursue redemption through either scapegoating or mortification.

Familiarity and lie detection: A replication and extension

Two studies of the relations among observer familiarity, perceived behavioral discrepancy, and judgmental accuracy in detecting deception are reported. In Study I, observers receiving either no prior exposure to baseline information on a communicator, one prior exposure, or repeated exposure made judgments of truthfulness or deceit on the part of 16 different communicators. Results indicated that observers having prior exposure to baseline information were significantly better at detecting deception, though repeated exposure did not significantly increase accuracy. In Study II, truthful baseline and potentially deceptive samples of behavior were compared and discrepancies estimated by a group of observers. Results indicated a strong and significant positive correlation between these discrepancy estimates and attributions (accurate or not) of deceit.

Changing Attitudes Toward the Homeless: The Effects of Prosocial Communication With the Homeless

One hundred, thirty-four undergraduate students participated in a field experiment designed to examine the effects of extended, prosocial communication with homeless persons, upon attitudes toward the homeless problem, of behavioral intentions towards the homeless, and of causal attributions about homelessness. It was expected that prosocial interaction with the homeless would produce shifts in attitudes and behavioral intentions toward the homeless and homelessness and result in greater attributions of external causes to explain homelessness. Nineteen experimental participants worked 15 hours at a local homeless shelter. Their responses to a posttest questionnaire that measured a range of attitudinal and behavioral orientations toward the homeless were compared with control participants who did not work at the shelter. Subsequent analyses furnished strong evidence of positive changes in attitudes and intentions toward homelessness among the shelter workers. These participants evaluated homeless people as less blameworthy and more socially attractive than did control participants; moreover, shelter workers indicated more personal responsibility and behavioral commitment to helping the homeless than control participants. They also perceived the homeless problem to be more serious and were more likely to attribute homelessness to bad luck than control participants. However, the two groups were equally likely to attribute homelessness to various external causes such as the economy, housing costs, and governmental policies. The results are interpreted as having policy implications for volunteer service.

Adolescents’ responses to sports figure product endorsements

A survey of 135 sixth, eighth, and tenth graders was conducted to assess the relationship between television exposure experiences with ads containing celebrity endorsements of smokeless tobacco products with attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions about the use of smokeless tobacco. The results suggest that a simple exposure model is not sufficient for explaining the effects of celebrity endorsements. However, use of smokeless tobacco, perceptions of acceptability of use by friends, and positive attitudes toward users were all related to particular viewing experiences.

PHYSICAL ATTRACTIVENESS AND JUDGMENTS OF MORALITY FOLLOWING AN "IMMORAL" ACT

98 male and female undergraduates judged the morality of a female who was described as having premarital sexual intercourse with a male she had never met before or with whom she had been dating for six months. Half were told that the female was extremely attractive and half were told that she was quite unattractive. As predicted, subjects evaluated the attractive female as being less moral than the unattractive one and this finding was most pronounced when she had not known her partner previously.

Effects of Forms of Address on Advisees' Perceptions of Advisors

One hundred and twenty-five undergraduate student volunteers participated in a three-group experiment in which they observed a videotaped advising session. One group observed the advisor address the student formally (i.e., using “Mr.”). Another group observed the advisor we the students first name, and the third group observed the advisor use no name in addressing the student. As predicted, we of the formal name resulted in an increase in perceived advisor persuasiveness. Name use did not significantly affect perceptions of advisor credibility, approachability, or likability.

and Nothing but the Truth

Issues regarding witness credibility are a crucial aspect of most, if not all, courtroom trials. Since factual information and evidence are necessarily incomplete and contradictory, “those charged with decision-making, whether they may be judges or jurors, must not only weigh the information and evidence, but must also evaluate the veracity of the opposing evidential and informational sources” (Miller & Boster, 1977, p. 28). Sometimes assessments of credibility can be made by comparing a witness’s testimony with that of other witnesses; for example, if six people observe a crime, and five of the six identify the defendant as the culprit while the sixth does not, then unless there are strong grounds for doubting the veracity of the five consistent witnesses, the sixth witness’s testimony will typically be discounted as stemming from error or even deliberate distortion. On other occasions, credibility judgments may hinge on extrinsic factors associated with the witness; for example, if it can be shown that a witness’s testimony is self-serving, then it is likely to be viewed more skeptically than testimony free of self-serving motives, or particularly, testimony diametrically opposed to the witness’s self-interest.

The persuasive effect of the AIDS NAMES quilt on behavioral intentions

The present study attempted to test the persuasive impact of the AIDS NAMES Quilt on behavioral intentions. Specifically, the Quilt, and knowing or not knowing a homosexual or Person Living with AIDS (PLWA), was predicted to be influential in determining ones intentions to behave supportively towards PLWA. Results indicated that far individuals who know a homosexual or PLWA, viewing the quilt had no effect. For individuals who did not know a homosexual or PLWA, the quilt had a significant effect on their behavioral intentions e.g., they were more willing to engage in supportive behaviors. Additionally, females were more willing to engage in supportive behaviors than males. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.