The effects of pleasantness of verbal messages on perceived deceptiveness in romantic relationships

The present study examined the effects of pleasantness expressed in verbal messages on their perceived deceptiveness. The hypothesis was that pleasant messages are perceived as less deceptive than neutral or unpleasant ones. To test the hypothesis, three types of messages were constructed: pleasant, neutral, and unpleasant. Sixty-seven university students answered the ques tionnaire in which they rated, on seven-point semantic differential scales, perceived deceptiveness in one of the three types of messages. The result indicated that the unpleasant messages were perceived as the most deceptive , while the pleasant ones the least deceptive. The computer program "GPOWER " was used in order to obtain appropriate sample size.