Wait! I wasn t finished . . .

This book explores how interrupters and their
targets are perceived in terms of status and
likability. In Experiment One, participants listened
to a brief audiotaped conversation in which one
person interrupted the other five times. Results
indicated that interrupters were perceived as more
dominant and more influential than non-interrupters,
and that targets of interruption were viewed as less
dominant, influential, and competent than non-
targets. Furthermore, interrupters were liked less
than non-interrupters. In Experiment Two, four
confederates (two men and two women) systematically
interrupted naïve participants while discussing an
article. Confederates were viewed as more dominant,
influential, and less likable in the interruption
condition than in the control condition. Targets of
interruption rated themselves as less influential in
the interruption condition than the control
condition. As expected, interrupters, especially
female interrupters, were liked less than those who
did not interrupt. The theoretical and practical
implications of these findings are discussed.

Autorentext

Sally Farley is an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Baltimore. In addition to her interest in nonverbal signals of power and liking, Dr. Farley also conducts research on the functions of gossip and the ways in which our voices change as a function of romantic attraction.

Klappentext

This book explores how interrupters and their targets are perceived in terms of status and likability. In Experiment One, participants listened to a brief audiotaped conversation in which one person interrupted the other five times. Results indicated that interrupters were perceived as more dominant and more influential than non-interrupters, and that targets of interruption were viewed as less dominant, influential, and competent than non-targets. Furthermore, interrupters were liked less than non-interrupters. In Experiment Two, four confederates (two men and two women) systematically interrupted naïve participants while discussing an article. Confederates were viewed as more dominant, influential, and less likable in the interruption condition than in the control condition. Targets of interruption rated themselves as less influential in the interruption condition than the control condition. As expected, interrupters, especially female interrupters, were liked less than those who did not interrupt. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.