Effect of Eye Contact and Distance on the Verbal Reinforcement of Attitude

Summary Eighty male and female university students were verbally reinforced for agree-disagree responses when they expressed favorable attitudes to intercollegiate sports. The distance that the interviewer stood apart from the S was varied and the interviewer engaged in eye contact or no eye contact with the S. The results indicated that the magnitude of attitude change was adversely affected when the interviewer stood “close” and gave no eye contact to the S. An explanation of the results was offered using a two-factor interpretation of attitudinal verbal reinforcement and interpersonal attraction.