The effects of hedges and hesitations on impression formation in a simulated courtroom context

Hosman, Lawrence A.; Wright, John W.

doi:10.1080/10570318709374263

Cited by 109 publications

(59 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Increased consideration may act as a form of rehearsal, which, in turn, enhances memory. Yet hedges also mark information and speakers as less reliable (Hosman & Wright, 1987), which would decrease motivation for listeners to repeat such information in a subsequent conversation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Hedges enhance memory but inhibit retelling

Liu

Tree

2012

Psychon Bull Rev

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We examined the effects of hedges and the discourse marker like on how people recalled specific details about precise quantities in spontaneous speech. We found that listeners treated hedged information differently from like-marked information, although both are thought to be indicators of uncertainty or vagueness. In addition, hedges had different effects depending on whether speakers were (1) retelling conversations to another person or (2) answering questions about material they had heard. When retelling to another person, listeners were more likely to report information that was either unmarked or marked with a like than hedged information (Experiment 1). Yet when answering questions by themselves, hedges enhanced memory for details, in comparison with likes (Experiment 2). Hedges appear to provide pragmatic cues about what information is reliable enough to repeat in a conversational context. But although hedged information may be left out, it is not forgotten.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Hosman & Wright, 1987), because hedges catch a listener's attention through their potentially unnecessary presence, or because people are more likely to listen for cues that tell them when a speaker wants them to pay attention rather than when not to pay attention (cf. Fox Tree, 2001;Fox Tree & Schrock, 1999).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hedges enhance memory but inhibit retelling

Liu

Tree

2012

Psychon Bull Rev

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“…This same group of researchers found similar findings using testimony from litigants. Specifically, they found that a defendant in a civil case was more likely to be perceived as being guilty when her testimony contained either hedges or hesitations, and that a defendant whose testimony contained both hedges and hesitations was perceived as being less authoritative and less likeable than a defendant whose testimony did not contain these powerless speech components (Hosman & Wright, 1987). Finally, these researchers have also found that intensifiers alone do not have a large impact on mock jurors' perceptions of witnesses testimony (Wright & Hosman, 1983).…”

Section: Witness Preparation 169mentioning

confidence: 81%

“…Project researchers studied recordings of actual courtroom testimony and designed experiments to assess the impact of different testimony styles on perceptions of witnesses' credibility and persuasiveness. The project produced several publications Erickson, Lind, Johnson, & O'Barr, 1978;Lind, Erickson, Conley, & O'Barr, 1978;O'Barr, 1982;O'Barr & Conley, 1976) and prompted a series of follow-up studies by other researchers (Barry, 1991;Bell, Zahn, & Hopper, 1984;Bradac, Hemphill, & Tardy, 1981;Hosman, 1989;Hosman & Wright, 1987;Hurwitz, Miron, & Johnson, 1992;Johnson & Vinson, 1987;Lisko, 1992;Parkinson, 1981;Parkinson, Geisler, & Pelias, 1983;Pryor & Buchanan, 1984;Wright & Hosman, 1983). Findings from this body of research provide the only direct empirical knowledge about the relation between witnesses' verbal communication styles and jurors' perceptions of their credibility and persuasiveness.…”

Section: Verbal Communicationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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What do we really know about witness preparation?

Boccaccini

2002

Behavioral Sci & The Law

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Witnesses often meet with an attorney or witness preparation specialist before trial to review, discuss, and sometimes modify the substance and delivery of their anticipated testimony. This process is commonly referred to as witness preparation. During witness preparation, witnesses are taught to use effective testimony delivery skills (e.g., verbal and nonverbal communication skills) so that they will be perceived as being credible and persuasive in the courtroom. Although social scientists know much about communication skills, credibility, and persuasion, few published studies have attempted to determine whether or not these factors can be modified through witness preparation training. The present article reviews the psychological literature pertaining to witness preparation and makes recommendations for needed witness preparation research. Copyright # 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Witness testimony is often the most important component of a trial. Attorneys argue legal cases by presenting witnesses who have information supporting their side of the case and by cross examining witnesses called to testify by opposing attorneys. Although attorneys direct the presentation of information to the court by deciding which witnesses to call and what questions to ask, most of the information that is presented comes from witnesses' testimony (e.g., litigants, victims, eye-witnesses, and expert witnesses). Because attorneys structure their cases according to their witnesses' testimony, they often tell jurors during opening and closing statements that this testimony is the 'real evidence' of the case (Selkirk, 1992, p. 18).It is a common misbelief that witnesses simply arrive at the courthouse, take an oath of honesty, and then testify to the court about what they know (Applegate, 1989). In reality, witnesses often meet with an attorney or witness preparation specialist before trial to review, discuss, and sometimes modify the substance and delivery of their anticipated testimony. This process, typically referred to as witness preparation, allows attorneys to present witnesses who are thoroughly familiar with the subject matter of their testimony and able to persuade judges (Applegate, 1989).Although witness preparation is common, numerous controversies surround its use. Witness preparation has been called a 'dark secret' of the legal profession because it occurs behind closed office doors and often remains confidential (Applegate, 1989). For example, attorneys are not obligated to reveal the witness preparation procedures that they use to prepare their own clients because this information is protected by attorney-client privilege (Davis & Beisecker, 1994). These circumstances have led the public to mistakenly believe that the purpose of witness preparation is for attorneys and clients to collaborate in the fabrication of misleading testimony (Applegate, 1989). It is unethical and illegal for attorneys to assist in the fabrication of misleading testimony (American Bar Association, 2001, §1.2d & §3.4b; see Salmi, 1999,...

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Social Psychology and Language: Words, Utterances, and Conversations

Holtgraves

2010

Handbook of Social Psychology

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The effects of hedges and hesitations on impression formation in a simulated courtroom context

Cited by 109 publications

References 23 publications

Hedges enhance memory but inhibit retelling

Hedges enhance memory but inhibit retelling

What do we really know about witness preparation?

Social Psychology and Language: Words, Utterances, and Conversations

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