Accurately Detecting Flirting
Error Management Theory, the Traditional Sexual Script, and Flirting Base Rate
- Jeffrey A. Hall, Communication Studies Department, University of Kansas, Bailey Hall, 1440 Jayhawk Blvd., Rm 102, Lawrence, KS 66045-7574, USA. Email: hallj{at}ku.edu
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.
Article Notes
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Declaration of Conflicting Interests The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
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Funding The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This research was supported by the University of Kansas General Research Fund (GRF Award #2301662).
- © The Author(s) 2014
