Linguistic mimicry and trust in text-based CMC

This study examines the relationship between linguistic mimicry and trust establishment in a text-chat environment. Twenty-six participant pairs engaged in a social dilemma investment game and chatted via Instant Messenger (IM) after every five rounds of investment. Results revealed that, within chat sessions, lexical mimicry (repetition of words or word phrases by both partners) was significantly higher for high-trusting pairs than for low-trusting pairs, but that lexical mimicry across chat sessions was significantly higher for low-trusting pairs than for high-trusting pairs. Theoretical and applied implications are discussed. Author Keywords Lexical Mimicry, Rapport, Trusting Language, Trust, Social Dilemma, Instant Messaging (IM) ACM Classification Keywords H.5.3 [Information Interfaces and Presentation]: Group and Organization Interfaces

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2008
• Where: CSCW
• Authors: Lauren E. Scissors, Alastair J. Gill, Darren Gergle
• Keywords: CSCW 2008, Lexical Mimicry, Low-trusting Pairs, Social Dilemma, Social Sciences