Negative
Attitudes, Nonverbal Behavior and Self-fulfilling Prophecy in Simulated Therapy Interviews
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Anneke Vrugt
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| Abstract |
| This research investigated if
interpersonal expectancies in a psycho-therapeutic context were mediated through nonverbal
behavior. Beginning (male) therapists served as interviewers and interacted with
(male) subjects who were introduced as clients (who were treated for psychological
problems) or normal students. It was hypothesized that the therapists would have a
more negative attitude toward the supposed clients than toward the nonclients and show
more arm position symmetry and less forward lean toward the supposed clients. The
interviewees were predicted to show more ah-filled pauses, speech disturbances, and less
looking at the interviewers in the client condition than in the nonclient condition.
The results demonstrated that therapists had more negative expectancies toward supposed
clients than toward nonclients. Support was shown for the hypothesis that more arm
position symmetry would be shown in the client condition than in the nonclient
condition. The results also indicated that suppposed clients used more ah-filled
pauses and speech disturbances than nonclients. The therapists used this
information when they attributed more discomfort to the supposed clients. It is
suggested that the findings of this study have implications for understanding the process
of self-fulfilling prophecy in a therapeutic context. |
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| Vrugt, A.
1990 Negative Attitudes, Nonverbal Behavior and Self-fulfilling Prophecy in Simulated
Therapy Interviews. In Journal of Nonverbal Behavior 14/2: 77-86. |
