loneliness : an examination of the nonverbal behaviors that accompany self-disclosures in unstructured conversations
abstract
loneliness is an interpersonal problem that involves a
lack of intimacy and inappropriate self-disclosure
patterns. double bind theory predicts that high selfdisclosures
should normally be accompanied by highintimate
nonverbal behaviors. discrepancy-arousal and
intimacy-equilibrium theories predict that low selfdisclosures
should normally be accompanied by highintimate
nonverbal behaviors. eighty female
undergraduates, randomly paired into zero-history
dyads, participated in unstructured 15 minute
conversations. after controlling for the intimate
nonverbal behavior of partners, lonelier people
displayed significantly less intimate nonverbal
behavior during low self-disclosures, and tended to
display less intimate nonverbal behavior during high
self-disclosures. however the results supported none
of the above theories because the subjects (both lonely
and nonlonely) did not behave differently during high,
as compared to low, self-disclosures. nonverbal
intimacy while listening to self-disclosures was not
associated with loneliness. lonelier subjects liked
their partners significantly less and tended to falsely
perceive themselves as being disliked by their partners, bias
associated suggesting a negative perceptual
with the experience of loneliness.
collections
- retrospective theses [1604]