Suspicious Receivers’ Goals and Behaviors 22
confronting the partner, talking around the issue, and giving the partner silence treatments were
frequently reported as the behavioral strategies individuals utilized. Gathering information from
third parties was more frequently reported than covert observation.
The results are consistent with the recent research findings on how people detect
deception (Park, Levine, McCornack, Morrison, & Ferrara, 2002). In Park et al.’s (2002) study,
individuals reported that they most often rely on third party information, solicited confession,
and physical evidence for deception detection. The verbal and nonverbal cues that can be
attained from observation were less significant deception detection tools. Likewise, the present
study has found that a covert observation is not a frequently utilized method to handle one’s
suspicion. This is inconsistent with the findings of previous experimental studies, where the
responses found from a suspicious receiver were to control the suspicion display and to passively
observe the verbal and nonverbal cues of the senders. As speculated, it seems that the
experimental manipulations significantly limit the behavioral choices of suspicious receivers,
neglecting other behavioral alternatives that are more frequently utilized in actuality.
Consistent with a goal-based approach to communication process (Berger, 1997; Canary
& Cody1994), significant links were found between a suspicious receiver’s interaction goals and
strategic behaviors. Relationship protection goals and the other interaction goals were found to
have a qualitatively distinct influence on a suspicious receiver’s behavioral choice. Individuals
were more likely to avoid the issue when they possessed various relationship protection goals,
while they were more likely to confront their partner when they had uncertainty reduction goals,
influence goals, or affect-driven goals. Therefore, it appears that the behavioral strategies differ
in terms of their contribution to the accomplishment of various interaction goals and, therefore, a
trade-off between the interaction goals occurs on a suspicious receiver’s mind.
Limitation and Directions for Future Research
Convention