To thine communication partner be true: The effect of presentation consistency on perceived authenticity and liking after making a first impression online

Abstract

This experiment examines the effects of presentation consistency on perceived authenticity and liking in computer-mediated communication, differentiating between profile views and short online text-based conversations. The experimental design is a 2 (presentation-consistent vs. -inconsistent) × 2 (profile view vs. short conversation) between-subjects experiment using university students (N = 173) in Singapore. Results show higher perceived authenticity (η2p = .29) and liking (η2p = .16) after short conversations than after profile views without conversations. When there is only a profile view, perceived authenticity is lower when the profile photo is inconsistent with the profile text than when it is consistent (η2p = .05). We discuss these findings in terms of schema tuning, where presentation inconsistencies can be accommodated over time as individuals develop unique mental schemas about their communication partners.

(In)consistency matters: An account of understanding the perception of inconsistent expressions on social media

“…To some extent, the authenticity model can help us understand the influence of self-generated inconsistency because it implicates that selfgenerated inconsistency could lead to negative interpersonal evaluations (i.e., harm the authenticity of a presenter). In line with this proposition, a recent experimental study confirmed that online presentation inconsistencies induced negative evaluations of a target person's authenticity and likeability (Tang et al, 2020). Similarly, prior research found that participants viewed a target whose online presentations deviated from his/her offline performances (i.e., observers' base-rate knowledge) as less trustworthy but more hypocritical (DeAndrea and Walther, 2011).…”

“…This study highlights the central role of perceived authenticity in online interpersonal perception. Considering the surge of misinformation in current online contexts, increasing research attention has been given to the role of authenticity ( Marwick and Boyd, 2011 ; Wotipka and High, 2016 ; Lee, 2020 ; Tang et al, 2020 ). Recent research has proposed that the perception of authenticity is bonded with the sense of (in)consistency concerning observers’ base-rate knowledge ( Lee, 2020 ), while the present study further suggests that an interrelationship exists between (in)consistency and authenticity.…”

“…Indeed, we focused on the perceptions of inconsistency in non-interactive online settings (e.g., profile viewing) in this exploratory study; however, people also directly and continuously interact with others on social media. Recent research posits that the negative effects of online presentation inconsistencies may diminish in interactive settings (like a short conversation of 30 min) ( Tang et al, 2020 ). Future research thus can uncover the mechanism of long-term effects of perceived inconsistency in continuous interactions.…”

“…Theoretically, inconsistent information violates the normative expectation of coherence and consistency in impression formation and could result in negative evaluations of the target person (Asch and Zukier, 1984;Hampson, 1998). Supporting this theoretical presumption, several studies found that one's inconsistent expressions negatively affect that person's trustworthiness, attractiveness, or authenticity (e.g., DeAndrea and Walther, 2011;Hong et al, 2012;Tang et al, 2020), but other studies suggest that a certain level of inconsistency in one's online performances may not necessarily harm his/her impression (e.g., Lee et al, 2020;Qin et al, 2021).…”

“…People chronicle their daily lives on social media and leave numerous media traces-whether a text, photograph, video clip, or even an emoji (Humphreys, 2018), which, in turn, serve Li et al 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.885498 as social cues for observers to learn about that person's characteristics or personality (Hall et al, 2013). In today's social media context, it is common to see inconsistencies between such cues because people cannot remember every piece of trace they left, or they may intend to do so (Tang et al, 2020). A typical example of self-contradiction is former President Trump on Twitter, who constantly conveyed inconsistent messages on various issues such as foreign policies or the coronavirus crisis (Shane, 2018;The Washington Post, 2020).…”