On Being Consistent: The Role of Verbal–Nonverbal Consistency in First Impressions

Extant research suggests that people seem deceitful and difficult to understand when their verbal behavior is inconsistent with their nonverbal behavior. Building on this literature, we examined the impact of behavioral coherence on impression formation: We expected people to be likeable to the extent that their verbal and nonverbal behavior was consistent (i.e., coherent). In two studies, participants were videotaped during interpersonal interactions. In both studies, judges with access to only transcripts or silent videos rated participants with respect to emotions (Study 1) or interpersonal concern (Study 2). Other judges—with access to full-audio video—rated participants’ likeability. Consistency across verbal (transcript) and nonverbal (silent video) channels was associated with likeability. Discussion focuses on the role of behavioral coherence in impression formation.