Causes and paralinguistic correlates of interpersonal equivocation

This paper examines the long standing theory of the Bavelas group which suggests that the only consistent cause of interpersonal equivocation is avoidance–avoidance conflict (AAC), and it also attempts to uncover a psycholinguistic profile of equivocation, especially in the form of paralinguistic cues such as dysfluencies. Participants responded orally to questions from hypothetical interlocutors within scenarios which manipulated both the presence/absence of AAC and level of situational formality. Their responses (72 messages) were audio taped, transcribed, rated for degree of equivocation, and coded for dysfluencies. Results of ANOVA showed that AAC not only resulted in more equivocation, but also that formality level interacted with AAC in influencing equivocation. Participants used filled pauses, surprisingly, in the condition within which they equivocated the least, although they produced other dysfluencies (combined) within conditions where they equivocated the most. Results are discussed in terms of the notion that filled pauses are special and in terms of interpersonal deception theory.