Reacting to nonverbal expressions of liking: A test of interaction adaptation theory

An intuitive notion regarding expressions of liking is that they are consis tently associated with positive relational outcomes. However, when such exp ressions go unreciprocated, they can leave the sender in a face-compromisin g position and may end up damaging the relationship The current experiment applied interaction adaptation theory to the task of predicting when nonver bal expressions of liking will be reciprocated. Ninety-six adults were pair ed with same-sex strangers and induced to expect the strangers either to li ke or dislike them and to desire that the strangers either like or dislike them. The strangers, who were trained confederates, enacted nonverbal behav iors associated either with liking or disliking during a short experimental interaction with participants. Participants enacted nonverbal liking behav ior when they desired the same from confederates, largely irrespective of p articipants' expectations or confederates' actual behaviors. Conversely, pa rticipants enacted disliking behavior when they desired the same from confe derates. These results provide support for interaction adaptation theory an d also suggest the counterintuitive notion that expressions of liking may n ot always be considered positive events. The results also raise important i ssues for how behavior valence and expectations are conceptually and operat ionally defined.