Integrity Perceptions and Behavior Triggered by the Hand-Over-Chest Gesture: A Semiotic Perspective

• 作者: Jie Leng Jixia Wu
• 来源期刊: 语言与符号学研究
• 学科: 文学
• 关键词: INTEGRITY perception and BEHAVIOR GESTURE SEMIOTICS conceptual METAPHORS EMBODIED cognition
• 年，卷（期）: 2019,（3）
• 页码范围: 20-47
• 页数: 28页
• 分类号: H31

摘要

The current study, based on Semiotic Theory, Conceptual Metaphor Theory, and a situational induced research method, explores the influence of the hand-over-chest gesture when it comes to perceptions and behaviors of integrity within the Chinese cultural context. Three different experiments consistently prove that the hand-over-chest gesture is associated with the concept of integrity in the Chinese culture, and helps to increase individuals’ sense and behavior of integrity. In Experiment 1, the target person performing the hand-over-chest gesture was regarded as an integrity person. In Experiment 2, the statements in the self-introduction from an interviewee who performed the hand-overchest gesture were considered more credible than the statements made by the interviewee with the control gesture. In Experiment 3, compared with those performing the control gesture, the participants with the hand-over-chest gesture gave more honest ratings to the least unattractive women and refrained from telling white lies. All the three experiments achieved statistically significant results. The results in this study indicate that the handover-chest gesture is the symbolic body language for Chinese college students to express integrity, triggering more trust in gesture makers and less white lies from the gesture makers themselves. This paper raises suggestions for further research on this topic as well.