Self-Disclosure and Decreased Persuasiveness of Political Speakers.

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Self-Disclosure and Decreased Persuasiveness of Political Speakers.
Language: English
Authors: Vartabedian, Robert A., Burger, Jerry M.
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 25
Publication Date: 1994
Document Type: Speeches/Meeting Papers
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Analysis of Variance, Communication Research, Higher Education, Interpersonal Communication, Persuasive Discourse, Political Candidates, Self Disclosure (Individuals), Undergraduate Students
Abstract: Previous laboratory research has found that self-disclosure by a speaker identified as a political officeholder results in a decrease in persuasiveness, whereas similar disclosure by nonofficials increases persuasiveness. Two experiments were conducted to examine this effect further. In experiment 1, subjects were 75 male and 77 female undergraduates in an introductory psychology course who received credit for participation in the study. Subjects read a speech and completed a questionnaire concerning the persuasiveness of the speech. Results indicated that the decreased persuasion effect was found for speakers identified as either a male or female officeholder. In experiment 2, a control condition was added in which subjects heard about the disclosed information without actual exposure to the disclosure. Subjects in this condition, 47 male and 72 female undergraduate students, found the officeholder more persuasive than did subjects exposed to the self-disclosure. Thus, the act of disclosing itself, rather than the information obtained from the disclosure, appears to be responsible for the effect. (Contains nine references and two tables of data.) (RS)
Entry Date: 1996
Accession Number: ED386768
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:Previous laboratory research has found that self-disclosure by a speaker identified as a political officeholder results in a decrease in persuasiveness, whereas similar disclosure by nonofficials increases persuasiveness. Two experiments were conducted to examine this effect further. In experiment 1, subjects were 75 male and 77 female undergraduates in an introductory psychology course who received credit for participation in the study. Subjects read a speech and completed a questionnaire concerning the persuasiveness of the speech. Results indicated that the decreased persuasion effect was found for speakers identified as either a male or female officeholder. In experiment 2, a control condition was added in which subjects heard about the disclosed information without actual exposure to the disclosure. Subjects in this condition, 47 male and 72 female undergraduate students, found the officeholder more persuasive than did subjects exposed to the self-disclosure. Thus, the act of disclosing itself, rather than the information obtained from the disclosure, appears to be responsible for the effect. (Contains nine references and two tables of data.) (RS)