The Nonverbal Bully: Effects of Shouting and Conversational Distance on Bystanders’ Perceptions

Corey A. Pavlich; Stephen A. Rains; Chris Segrin

doi:10.1080/08934215.2017.1315439

The Nonverbal Bully: Effects of Shouting and Conversational Distance on Bystanders’ Perceptions

Corey A. Pavlich, Stephen A. Rains, Chris Segrin

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study examines how nonverbal behavior in the form of conversational distance and volume impacts bystanders’ perceptions of bullying. After watching a bullying scenario on video, participants completed measures regarding their perceptions of the bully, victim, and intentions to intervene. The results revealed an interaction between distance and volume for perceptions of the bully and victim. When they spoke in a normal conversing volume (i.e., 65 decibels), bullies were perceived to be weaker when they stood closer to victims (i.e., 18 inches apart) than when they stood further away (i.e., 4 feet). Victims were perceived as stronger when bullies stood closer and spoke at a normal volume.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	129-141
Number of pages	13
Journal	Communication Reports
Volume	30
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/08934215.2017.1315439
State	Published - Sep 2 2017

Keywords

Bullying
Nonverbal
Paralanguage
Proxemics

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Education
Communication
Language and Linguistics
Linguistics and Language

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10.1080/08934215.2017.1315439

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title = "The Nonverbal Bully: Effects of Shouting and Conversational Distance on Bystanders{\textquoteright} Perceptions",

abstract = "This study examines how nonverbal behavior in the form of conversational distance and volume impacts bystanders{\textquoteright} perceptions of bullying. After watching a bullying scenario on video, participants completed measures regarding their perceptions of the bully, victim, and intentions to intervene. The results revealed an interaction between distance and volume for perceptions of the bully and victim. When they spoke in a normal conversing volume (i.e., 65 decibels), bullies were perceived to be weaker when they stood closer to victims (i.e., 18 inches apart) than when they stood further away (i.e., 4 feet). Victims were perceived as stronger when bullies stood closer and spoke at a normal volume.",

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AB - This study examines how nonverbal behavior in the form of conversational distance and volume impacts bystanders’ perceptions of bullying. After watching a bullying scenario on video, participants completed measures regarding their perceptions of the bully, victim, and intentions to intervene. The results revealed an interaction between distance and volume for perceptions of the bully and victim. When they spoke in a normal conversing volume (i.e., 65 decibels), bullies were perceived to be weaker when they stood closer to victims (i.e., 18 inches apart) than when they stood further away (i.e., 4 feet). Victims were perceived as stronger when bullies stood closer and spoke at a normal volume.

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KW - Paralanguage

KW - Proxemics

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The Nonverbal Bully: Effects of Shouting and Conversational Distance on Bystanders’ Perceptions

Abstract

Keywords

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