The Role ofBackground Behavior in Televised Debates: Does Displaying Nonverbal Agreementand/or Disagreement Benefit Either Debater?

This study examined the effects of background nonverbal behavior displayed with the purpose of undermining one\u27s opponent in televised debates. Students watched one of four versions of a televised debate. In each, while the speaking debater appeared on the main screen, subscreens displayed her nonspeaking opponent\u27s background nonverbal behavior. In one version, the non-speaking debater remained “stone faced” during her opponent\u27s speech, while in the other three she nonverbally displayed occasional disagreement, nearly constant disagreement, or both agreement and disagreement. After viewing the debates, students rated the debaters\u27 credibility, appropriateness, objectivity, and debate skills, in addition to judging who won the debate. Analysis indicated that background nonverbal behavior influenced audience perceptions of debaters\u27 credibility, appropriateness, objectivity, debate skill, and the extent to which the debate was won. These results suggest that adding nonverbal agreement to expressions of nonverbal disagreement do not reduce the negative impacts of communicating disagreement nonverbally during an opponent\u27s speech and may in fact further decrease the audiences\u27 perception of a debater\u27s credibility and overall performance