Behavioral consistency has been at the center of debates regarding the stability of personality. We argue that people are consistent but that such consistency is best observed in nonverbal behavior. In Study 1, participants’ verbal and nonverbal behaviors were observed in a mock interview and then in an informal interaction. In Study 2, medical students’ verbal and nonverbal behaviors were observed during first- and third-year clinical skills evaluation. Nonverbal behavior exhibited consistency across context and time (a duration of 2 years) whereas verbal behavior did not. Discussion focuses on implications for theories of personality and nonverbal behavior.

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.