Non‐verbal and verbal behaviours associated with parting

Abstract

The aim of the study was to examine the effect of sex of subject and acquaintance on the behaviour of 24 pairs of same‐sex subjects at a particular transition point, the closure of a meeting. Each pair of subjects was asked to discuss a topic of its own choosing for 20 min. They were instructed that a buzzer would then sound and they should open envelopes which instructed one or both of them to go elsewhere for the rest of the experiment. The procedure was videotaped. Subjects subsequently completed a questionnaire giving their perceptions of themselves and their partners. It was found that friends showed more verbal and non‐verbal interaction during parting than did strangers. Differences related to both sex and degree of acquaintance were found in the questionnaire responses. The results are discussed in relation to social skills and to differential expectations of future interaction.