Linguistic Influences on the Outcomes of Imposed Advice

Lyn M. Van Swol*, Jihyun Esther Paik, Andrew Prahl

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This study examines how language used by advice recipients and whether the peer apologized before offering advice affected advice outcomes. Participants wrote about a problem and then shared the problem through online chat with a peer (who was actually an experimental confederate). Although the participant was expecting the peer to share a problem as well and stated they did not want advice, the peer gave advice. Use of future tense verbs by the recipient in problem descriptions reduced implementation intention, perceived efficacy of advice, perceived approbation of advice, and perception of advice as confirming. This supports research that planning, operationalized through use of future tense verbs, reduces receptiveness to advice. Participants who used more I and we pronouns had lower intentions to implement advice. Contrary to hypotheses, use of apologies by the advisor for giving unwanted advice did not affect implementation intentions and increased reported negative emotions.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)318-333
Number of pages16
JournalJournal of Language and Social Psychology
Volume39
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 1 2020
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2020.

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

  • Social Psychology
  • Education
  • Language and Linguistics
  • Anthropology
  • Sociology and Political Science
  • Linguistics and Language

Keywords

  • advice
  • apology
  • future tense verbs
  • LIWC
  • planning
  • unsolicited advice

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