Suchergebnisse

EIGHTY SUBJECTS VIEWED A VIDEOTAPED SIMULATED DEBATE BETWEEN AN INCUMBENT CANDIDATE AND HIS CHALLENGER FOR A FICTITIOUS POST OF COUNTY COMMISSIONER. IN A 2 X 2 X 2 DESIGN, EITHER THE INCUMBENT CANDIDATE OR HIS SUBORDINATE WAS ACCUSED OF SEXUAL OR FINANCIAL MISCONDUCT, AND THE INCUMBENT CANDIDATE EITHER DENIED THE MISCONDUCT CHARGES OR APOLIGIZED FOR THE MISCONDUCT. CONSISTENT WITH SCHLENKER'S (1980) THEORY OF "IMPRESSION MANAGEMENT," DENIAL OF MISCONDUCT CHARGES WAS A MORE EFFECTIVE STRATEGY IN OBTAINING VOTES THAN APOLOGIZING FOR MISCONDUCT. THE CANDIDATE WAS ALSO VIEWED MORE NEGATIVELY IF HE WAS DIRECTLY ACCUSED OF MISCONDUCT THAN IF HIS SUBORDINATE WAS ACCUSED. VOTING PATTERNS OF SUBJECTS IN THE STUDY WERE CONSISTENT WITH RATINGS OF THE HONESTY, ETHICS, AND TRUSTWORTHINESS OF THE INCUMBENT CANDIDATE.