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Vocal signs of confidence

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Abstract

This study examined whether two paralinguistic variables, vocal loudness and response latency, were associated with confidence in answers to trivia questions. Audience presence and size were manipulated and subjects' assertiveness was measured. Subjects verbally responded to trivia questions by indicating their choice and how confident they were in each answer. Tapes of these responses were later analyzed for latency of response and loudness of speech. As expected, the more confident individuals were in their answers, the faster and louder they responded. Assertive subjects spoke louder. The presence of an audience had no effects on vocal responding. Apparently, the confidence of a speaker can be inferred from the speed and loudness of the speaker's responses.

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Author notes

  1. Steven D. Seidel

    Present address: Miami University, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Dayton, 45469-1430, Dayton, OH

    Charles E. Kimble

Authors
  1. Charles E. Kimble
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  2. Steven D. Seidel
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Additional information

This study was a Master's thesis project conducted by the second author under the supervision of the first author.

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Kimble, C.E., Seidel, S.D. Vocal signs of confidence. J Nonverbal Behav 15, 99–105 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00998265

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00998265

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