Errors in decoding tone of voice during dyadic interaction.
Predictions derived from evidence on projection, behavioural assimilation and attribution theory suggest differing ways in which one individual may perceive another's tone of voice in dyadic interaction. Pairs of male subjects undertook a competitive or cooperative counting task. One member of each pair was instructed that he could best influence the dyad's performance by the use of an angry or pleased tone of voice. The results indicate that while subjects in the cooperative condition tended to attribute their own tone of voice to their (neutral) partner, competitive subjects attributed a discrepant or neutral tone. The findings are interpreted in terms of attribution theory. Implications for studies of non-verbal communication are discussed.
D000328:Adult; D000786:Anger; D001307:Auditory Perception; D003163:Competitive Behavior; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004644:Emotions; D006240:Happiness; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D009633:Nonverbal Communication; D011385:Projection; D011582:Psychological Theory; D012647:Self-Assessment; D014705:Verbal Behavior; D014831:Voice