[The effect of interviewer distance on eyeblinks and heart rates of interviewee]

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of interviewer distance on interviewee eyeblinks and heart rates. The interviewer was a 22 year-old woman, and 21 undergraduates, eight men and 13 women, participated in the study as interviewees. Interviews were conducted under three distance conditions: close (0.8 m), middle (2.0 m), and distant (4.0 m). A polygraph recorded the interviewee's eyeblinks and heart rates during the interview. After the interview, the interviewee rated his/her own psychological state during the interview, and reported impressions of the interviewer. Results showed that interviewees blinked more frequently in the close condition than the other conditions. No significant effect was found on heart rate. Interviewees rated their psychological state as more negative in the close condition, but impression to the interviewer remained the same across the conditions. These results indicated that eyeblink is a useful physiological index of effects that interpersonal situations have.