The Effect of Compliment Type on the Estimated Value of the Compliment Payton Davenport, Audrey Lemons, and Jacob Shope Faculty Advisor: Dr. Sarai Blincoe Department of Psychology
Awarded first place Social Sciences paper
Abstract
Boothby and Bohns (2020) created a study in which those who give compliments underestimated the value that their compliment would have on the person receiving it (Boothby & Bohns, 2020). Our study was a conceptual replication of the Boothby and Bohns (2020) study
and focused on the effect of different compliment types on the level of underestimation from both the receiver and giver. Participants were randomly assigned to give one of two different compliment types (physical appearance or attire) to a stranger. Although the effect of the dependent variable, measured level of underestimation, supported our first hypothesis thus supporting prior findings, there was no difference between the compliment type’s level of underestimation. Our results indicate that people do underestimate the impact of their compliment regardless of the specific type of compliment given. From our research findings, we discussed the relevance of how individuals tend to underestimate a compliment’s value despite it being a form of prosocial behavior with positive outcomes.
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Psychology
