Differential Sensitivity to Contradictory Communication as a Function of Age and Culture.

Recordings were made of Canadian and Mexican actresses reciting contradictory messages in their respective languages (i.e., English and Spanish). The speech samples were contradictory in that the tone of voice was incongruent with the words spoken. When these contradictory communications were played to Canadian and Mexican children aged 7, 9, and 11, it was found that there was a clear age effect. That is, the younger children in both cultures interpreted the contradictory messages more negatively than the older children. Further, a culture effect was noted, such that the Mexican children viewed the contradictory speech significantly more negatively than did their Canadian counter-parts. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]