Less is more when rating extraversion: Behavioral cues and interpersonal perceptions on the platform of facebook.

Abstract

We explore how specific behaviors on Facebook inform interpersonal perceptions. We conducted two studies that explored the impact of linguistic (Study 1) and emotional cues (Study 2) on interpersonal perceptions of a fictitious target. In both studies, a between-participants design was used, whereby participants were randomly allocated to one of three cue conditions, were presented with a Facebook profile that varied in the respective cue usage, and were asked to provide personality perceptions. Study 1 conditions varied in linguistic cues (accurate spelling, one error, and multiple errors), and Study 2 conditions varied in emotional cues (no emoji, one happy emoji, and multiple happy emoji). Study 1 found linguistic accuracy was related to perceptions of target extraversion. Specifically, the target was rated more extraverted in the control condition, with no errors relative to a single error condition. Study 2 results suggested that emoji cues did not have any significant impact upon trait perceptions. Taken together, the findings suggest that "less is more" when making judgments specifically for extraversion. Public Policy Relevance StatementOnline communication is a fundamental part of 21st century communication methods. This research highlights that aspects of our communication such as spelling accuracy may have a knock-on impact on how others judge us with respect to our personality. Specifically, we may be more likely to judge people as extraverted when they use more accurate spelling with their social media posts.

When You Are Wrong on Facebook, Just Admit It

“…We wanted to limit the impact of other information readily available on OSNs (e.g., profiles, pictures, and demographics). This decision is in line with prior research investigating the effects of minimal information on OSNs (e.g., Austin et al, 2021; Kaye et al, 2020). However, it limits the current investigation because it is unclear how this extra information might impact impression formation in relation to wrongness admission on OSNs.…”

“…We designed our OSN materials in a similar manner to that of previous investigations investigating the impact of minimal information on impression formation on OSNs (e.g., Austin et al, 2021; Kaye et al, 2020) and based on the idea that viewers tend to discredit user-curated OSN profile information (Utz, 2010) and form strong impressions when passively observing interactions (Quadflieg & Penton-Voak, 2017). Therefore, we provided only the textual information and removed all identifying characteristics and profile information.…”

Personality Perception in Game of Thrones: Character Consensus and Assumed Similarity

“…Similarly, people scoring high on Machiavellianism identified more closely with villains and anti-heroes with similarly dark traits (Black et al, 2019). Beyond fictional characters, people can detect other's narcissism (Buffardi & Campbell, 2008) and extraversion (Kaye et al, 2020) when viewing their social media platforms such as Facebook profiles, as well as other Big Five traits when viewing others' personal websites (Vazire & Gosling, 2004).…”

Personality perception in Game of Thrones: Character consensus and assumed similarity.

“…Similarly, people scoring high on Machiavellianism identified more closely with villains and antiheroes with similarly dark traits (Black et al, 2019). Beyond fictional characters, people can detect other’s narcissism (Buffardi & Campbell, 2008) and extraversion (Kaye et al, 2020) when viewing their social media platforms such as Facebook profiles, as well as other Big Five traits when viewing others’ personal websites (Vazire & Gosling, 2004).…”