Effects of Positive and Negative Gestures on Perceived Attitude Change

• Main Author: Taylor, Cheryl Ann
• Other Authors: Charles G Lord
• Format: Others
• Language: en
• Published: Texas Christian University 2006
• Subjects: College of Science and Engineering
• Online Access: http://etd.tcu.edu/etdfiles/available/etd-04242006-112021/

Two experiments explored the effects of physical movements, particularly positive and negative gestures, on perceived authorship and attitude change. In Experiment 1, directors ordered actors to make positive or negative gestures while images of gay men were displayed. Actors reported significant attitude change in the direction of the gestures, but directors and observers did not. Experiment 2 extended these results by giving the illusion of physical movement to perceivers. Perceivers neither chose nor performed the gestures toward gay men, yet they still reported a significantly greater attitude change in the direction of the gestures than did other participants. These effects on perceived attitudes were not mediated by perceived authorship, memory bias, or memory accuracy. The results are interpreted in terms of embodiment theory.