The Effects of Lighting, Distance and Intimacy of Topic on Verbal and Visual Behavior

Abstract

This experiment examined how Ss assess degree of intimacy and how they respond to intimacy. Forty female Ss answered 3 non-intimate questions in a baseline interview and 3 intimate questions in an experimental interview, in which they sat far from or near to E in a brightly or dimly lit room. Dependent variables included verbal and visual behavior and questionnaire responses. Ss reduced verbal disclosure and eye-contact during the intimate inverview. They rated the Dim and Near conditions as more intimate and less appropriate than the Bright and Far, respectively, and they preferred the Near over the Far condition. In the Dim condition, Ss decreased eye-contact and increased latency to talk, but the Near-Far distinction did not affect behavior. Intimacy may be independent of appropriateness and preference, and may affect verbal and visual behaviors d ifferently.