Influences of eyeblinks on person perception

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the influences of speakers' eyeblink frequency on receivers' impression formation in person perception. One hundred and thirty-four subjects, 96 males and 38 females, participated in this study as the receivers. The speakers were presented on video display, and they blinked either frequently or rarely. Subjects then rated impressions of the speakers on a set of 32 items of SD-scale. A factor analysis of the ratings yielded 3 factors, interpreted as "dynamism", "intimacy", and "sincerity". The frequently blinking speakers were rated less dynamic, intimate, and sincere, than the rarely blinking speakers. The results indicate that frequent eyeblinks had negative influences on impressions.