TESTING INTERPERSONAL DECEPTION THEORY - THE LANGUAGE OF INTERPERSONAL DECEPTION

An analysis of verbal behavior was undertaken to test principles of in terpersonal deception theory (IDT). It was predicted that language cho ice in deceptive messages would reflect strategic attempts to manage i nformation through nonimmediate language. This linguistic profile, tho ugh, was expected to be altered in response to preinteractional factor s - relational and behavioral familiarity - and interactional factors - form of deception and receiver suspicion. Results from two investiga tions are reported: a secondary analysis on interactions in an earlier study (Burgeon, Buller, Dillman, & Walther, 1995) and analysis of a p rimary experiment employing a 2 (relationship) x 2 (receiver expertise ) x 2 (receiver suspicion) x 2(truth/deception) within-subjects factor ial design. As expected, senders displayed greater verbal nonimmediacy when deceiving. Expertise had a greater effect on linguistic behavior than a prior relationship with the receiver, with senders using more verbal nonimmediacy with novice receivers. Senders were more verbally nonimmediate when equivocating. Suspicion produced a mixed pattern of linguistic cues. The possibility that changes produced by preinteracti on and interactional factors were strategic attempts to bolster credib ility is discussed.