Debate Demeanor

Source: changingworldviews.blogspot.com

During the presidential debate on Wednesday, the behaviors of the two candidates were different. Barack Obama appeared more relaxed and confident, intently watching as John McCain spoke. He also made an effort to make eye contact with viewers at home through the camera. McCain, on the other hand, often looked scared or uncomfortable, rapidly blinking his eyes with a frozen smile or a smirk on his face. While Obama spoke, McCain fidgeted with a pen.

Kopacz (2006) wrote that nonverbal behaviors visible through mass media impact how voters judge political candidates’ characters. She writes that particularly when voters are not informed about the issues, or are not motivated to learn about candidates’ policy stances, they may rely on visual and verbal cues to help make decisions on credibility and suitability for office.

If this is true, McCain could be in trouble, especially as many U.S. voters are not well-informed. Direct eye contact and facial displays of reassurance convey dominance (Burgoon, Birk and Pfau, 1990, as cited in Kopacz, 2006). This dominance-credibility theory posits that uninformed voters watching the debate may have viewed Obama as a suitable leader and McCain as a less desirable candidate.

I understand my previous views bias my opinion (hey! boomerang effect of social judgment theory!), but regardless of how you plan to vote on November 4, how did you interpret the candidates’ debate demeanors?

Source: abcnews.com

Kopacz, M. (2006). Nonverbal communication as a persuasion tool: Current status and future directions. Rocky Mountain Communication Review, 3(1), 1-19.