| dc.description.abstract | Interpersonal trust plays a crucial role in social relationships. While previous research has examined
the separate effects of non-verbal synchrony (NVS) and reciprocal self-disclosure on interpersonal
trust, few studies have explored their combined influence. This experimental study investigated the
individual and interactive effects of NVS and reciprocal self-disclosure on interpersonal trust
between strangers, using a 2 (NVS: synchrony vs. non-synchrony) x 2 (reciprocal self-disclosure:
self-disclosure vs. non-self-disclosure) between-subjects factorial design. Forty-nine dyads (98
individuals) were randomly assigned to one of the four conditions, engaged in a synchrony task
followed by a self-disclosure task, and then completed an interpersonal trust questionnaire.
Contrary to the hypotheses, the results indicated that neither NVS, self-disclosure, nor their
interaction significantly affected trust levels, suggesting that these factors may not impact
interpersonal trust. Potential explanations for the non-significant findings may lie in the manipulation
of both NVS and reciprocal self-disclosure. A key observation was a ceiling effect, with trust scores
exceeding 6.1 on a 7-point scale across all conditions, possibly obscuring differences between
experimental groups. This effect may reflect institution-based trust and/or social categorisation
processes. Additionally, the use of a self-report survey instead of a behavioural task to operationalise
interpersonal trust may have influenced the results. Future research could implement manipulation
checks, consider behavioural assessments of interpersonal trust, and further investigate how
institution-based trust and social categorisation processes influence interpersonal trust scores. | |
