PSYCHOLOGY MASTER'S THESIS ABSTRACT

Saeid Atoofi

MA-Research
December 2005

Tailoring Utterances and Modifying Nonverbal Behavior as Perspective-Taking with Different Addresses:
An Investigation of Theory of Mind in Adults

    The purpose of this research study was to investigate how speakers change the content of their utterances and non-verbal behavior according to the level of understanding of their listeners. Twelve undergraduate psychology students watched two videos, a psychology video and a cooking instruction video. They explained both videos to a non-psychology major undergraduate, and a psychology graduate student. Each speaker’s behavior was video-taped and rated by the experimenter and one independent judge for the number of jargon terms, number of questions asked, time of explanation, and time of hand gestures. Results did not support significant changes across different levels of listeners. However, there were significant differences across different levels of videos on time spent for explanation, and time of hand gestures. Add hoc analysis showed that speakers differed significantly on their number, duration, and reasons for their smile and laughter across different levels of listeners as well as types of videos.

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