Effects of liking, interpersonal distance, and topics on nonverbal behaviors

Abstract

Effects of liking, interpersonal distance, and intimacy of topics on nonverbal behaviors were investigated in a setting simulating natural interaction, using a multichannel approach, which simultaneously took account of look, eye contact, body orientation, body lean, head orientation, and utterances. Twenty four male undergraduates interacted in pairs. Their interactions were video-taped. 1. Effects of liking were found on forward body lean, smile, head orientation, eye contact, and quantity of look. 2. Effects of interpersonal distance were found on forward body lean, eye contact, and body orientation. 3. In high liking, the smaller the interpersonal distance (or the greater the immediacy in terms of interpersonal distance), the greater the immediacy defined as a composite of other behaviors, and in low liking vice versa.