Nonverbal communication and persuasion in times of Corona: Can hand gestures improve the effectiveness of persuasive communication in online video calls?
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2021-08-23
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en
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As online video calls replace once typical in person meetings and conferences, the coinage “Zoom fatigue” (Reinach, 2020) has captured a sentiment felt by many who rely on videoconferencing in times of Corona. In light of these recent developments and previous research on nonverbal communication, this study investigated whether hand gestures could potentially help to improve online video communication and engage those who experience Zoom fatigue, specifically with regard to persuasion. It was found that hand gestures do not seem to be a useful tool to influence listeners’ attitudes regarding a speaker’s personal characteristics, performance, or message in this particular online context. However, since listeners’ level of elaboration was also examined as a relevant factor in the persuasion process, the findings revealed that the degree to which listeners elaborate on a persuasive online speech plays a decisive role for how their attitudes are affected.
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