The influence of perceived source reward value on attributions of deception

Nonverbal expectancy violations theory was used to predict a relationship between attributions of deceptiveness and source reward value. Eighty‐five participants watched one of two simulated video‐dating service interview tapes showing a female message source presented as either high or low level of reward value. Reward level was manipulated by varying the quality of the source's appearance. In both videotapes the message source displayed behaviors stereotypically associated with deceptiveness. The low reward message source was rated as significantly more deceptive than the high reward source. Implications for nonverbal expectancy violations theory and deception research are discussed.