Effects of taboo conversation topics on impression formation and task performance evaluation

• Hye Eun Lee

  Ewha Womans University

• Catherine Kingsley Westerman

  North Dakota State University

• Emi Hashi

  Arizona State University

• Kyle B. Heuett

  Ball State University

• Stephen A. Spates

  Missouri State University

• Katie M. Reno

  School of Communication Studies, The University of Tennessee, and Client Success, Watermark

• Erica W. Jenkins

  The University of Tennessee

We examined how taboo conversation topics, such as being arrested, religion, and one’s body weight, affect impression formation and task performance. In an experiment with 109 women, each participant and a female research confederate, whom the participant believed to be another participant, had a conversation and were asked to complete a task. We manipulated the conversation topics and actual task performance of the confederate, and measured participants’ communication satisfaction; perception of the confederate’s social, physical, and task attractiveness; and task performance. The results show that when the confederate performed well and appropriate (vs. taboo) conversation topics were discussed, the participants formed a more positive impression of the confederate and evaluated her task performance more positively. Therefore, if social norms for appropriate conversation topics are not followed, individuals may be less satisfied with their interpersonal communication interaction with the person who has not observed the norms, and may evaluate the task performance of that other person more negatively.

1. Hye Eun Lee, Ewha Womans University
   School of Communication and Media
2. Catherine Kingsley Westerman, North Dakota State University
   Department of Communication
3. Emi Hashi, Arizona State University
   Hugh Downs School of Human Communication
4. Kyle B. Heuett, Ball State University
   Department of Communication Studies
5. Stephen A. Spates, Missouri State University
   Department of Communication
   
6. Erica W. Jenkins, The University of Tennessee
   School of Communication Studies

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