Decoding ambiguity: How vague responses impact perceptions

An article, co-authored by GSEM Professor Ignazio Ziano and Deming Wang, has been published in the top-tier journal Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. The study explores how ambiguous responses in social interactions can lead to negative perceptions. It reveals that people who provide vague answers are generally seen as less likable because such reactions can be interpreted as insincere or indicative of social disinterest. However, the analysis also identifies situations where ambiguity is not detrimental, such as when dealing with sensitive topics that require a softer approach. Additionally, it discusses the broader implications of response ambiguity on personality perceptions and social decision-making.

ABSTRACT

Across nine experiments (eight preregistered) involving Western and Asian samples, we showed that people providing ambiguous (vs. specific) responses to questions in various social scenarios are seen as less likable. This is because, depending on the social context, response ambiguity may be interpreted as a way to conceal the truth and as a sign of social disinterest. Consequently, people reported lower inclination to befriend or date individuals who appeared to provide ambiguous responses. We also identified situations in which response ambiguity does not harm likability, such as when the questions are sensitive and the responder may need to “soften the blow.” A final exploratory study showed that response ambiguity also impacts personality perceptions—individuals providing ambiguous responses are judged as less warm, less extraverted, less gullible, and more cautious. We discuss theoretical implications for the language psychology and person perception literatures and practical implications for impression management and formation.

The study is available open access: Give Me a Straight Answer: Response Ambiguity Diminishes Likability

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