The effects of cognitive complexity and arousal on client perception of counselor nonverbal behavior

This analogue study examined the interaction between cognitive complexity and arousal in client discrimination of counselor positive and negative nonverbal behavior. Thirty university students, divided into low, medium, and high arousal conditions, viewed a videotaped counseling interview in which the counselor nonverbal behaviors were varied systematically and then rated counselor perceived expertness. The results showed that subjects discriminated counselor positive and negative nonverbal behaviors in the early portion of a 30-minute interview, but this tendency deteriorated quickly as the interview progressed. Also, there was a significant interaction between subject cognitive complexity and arousal level. Implications of the findings are discussed.