Accurately Detecting Flirting: Error Management Theory, the Traditional Sexual Script, and Flirting Base Rate. (October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hall, Jeffrey A.; Xing, Chong; Brooks, Seth
• Is Part Of: Communication research. Volume 42:Number 7(2015:Oct.)
• Page Start: 939
• Page End: 958
• Publication Date: 2015-10
• Subjects: biological sex -- courtship -- flirting -- perceptual accuracy; Communication -- Research -- Periodicals; 302.2
• DOI: 10.1177/0093650214534972
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0093-6502

Abstract

This article reports two studies on the accuracy of flirting detection. In Study 1, 52 pairs ( n = 104) of opposite-sex heterosexual strangers interacted for 10 to 12 minutes, then self-reported flirting and perceived partner flirting. The results indicated that interactions where flirting did not occur were more accurately perceived than interactions where flirting occurred. In Study 2, twenty-six 1-minute video clips drawn from Study 1 were randomly assigned to one of eight experimental conditions that varied flirting base rate and the traditional sexual script. Participant observers ( n = 261) attempted to determine if flirting occurred. The results indicated that base rate affected accuracy; flirting was more accurately detected in clips where flirting did not occur than in clips where flirting occurred. Study 2 also indicated that female targets' flirting was more accurately judged than male targets' flirting. Findings are discussed in relation to theory and courtship context.