The Ability to Decode Nonverbal Information in African American, African and Afro-Caribbean, and European American Adults

Abstract

To examine the ability of participants from different ethnic backgrounds to accurately interpret the nonverbal behavior of European American adults, African American (n = 39), African and Afro-Caribbean (referred to as international) (n = 17), and European American (n = 38) undergraduate students completed the Diagnostic Analysis of Nonverbal Accuracy Scale (DANVA). European American participants were found to be more accurate than international and African American participants in identifying emotion in tones of voice and more accurate than international participants in identifying emotion in postures. However, the mean differences became nonsignificant when the effects of acculturation were removed. The results are discussed within the context of the convergence theory of interethnic communication described by Kincaid.