"Strategies for Responding to Background Nonverbal Disparagement in Televised Political Debates: Effects on Audience Perceptions of Argument Skill and Appropriateness" by Harry Weger, Jr.

Article

Strategies for Responding to Background Nonverbal Disparagement in Televised Political Debates: Effects on Audience Perceptions of Argument Skill and Appropriateness

Argumentation and Advocacy

Harry Weger, Jr.
John S. Seiter, Utah State University
Kimberly A. Jacobs
Valerie Akbulut

Download Find in your library

Document Type

Article

Publisher

American Forensic Association

Publication Date

1-1-2010

Disciplines

Arts and Humanities

Abstract

412 participants watched a purported televised political debate between candidates for mayor. In each of six versions, one debater engaged in strong nonverbal disagreement during his opponents opening statement. The opponent then responded with one of six decreasingly polite attempts to stop the debater from engaging in the nonverbal behavior. Direct, but not personally attacking, responses resulted in higher levels of perceived argumentation effectiveness and appropriateness when compared to not responding to the nonverbal behavior.

Comments

*undergraduate student; **graduate student

Citation Information

Weger, H., Jr., Seiter, J. S., *Jacobs, K. A., & **Akbulut, V. (2010). Strategies for Responding to Background Nonverbal Disparagement in Televised Political Debates: Effects on Audience Perceptions of Argument Skill and Appropriateness. Argumentation and Advocacy, 47 (1), 39-54.