Commentary on Elkjær et al.’s (2020) Meta-Analysis on Expansive Versus Contractive Nonverbal Displays

We offer a critical perspective on the meta-analysis by Elkjær et al. (2020) by pointing out three constraints: The first refers to open-science practices, the second addresses the selection of studies, and the third offers a broader theoretical perspective. We argue that preregistration and adherence to the highest standards of conducting meta-analyses is important. Further, we identified several missing studies. Regarding the theoretical perspective, we suggest that it may be useful to tie body positions into the dominance-prestige framework and, on that basis, to distinguish two types of body positions. Such an approach has the potential to account for discrepancies in previous meta-analytical evidence regarding the effects of expansive versus contractive nonverbal displays. Future research may thus be able to provide not only methodological but also theoretical innovations to the field of body positions.

Cultural outsiders’ evaluations of (im)politeness in Finland and in France

Intercultural interaction may be complicated by differing verbal and nonverbal displays of (im)politeness. Yet cultural outsiders’ evaluations of (im)politeness have not been widely examined. To fill this gap, this study investigated perceptions of Finnish politeness among French people living in Finland and perceptions of French politeness among Finns currently or previously living in France. Focus groups were used in order to study culturally shared (im)politeness norms and their variations. Based on a dialogical discourse analysis of five focus group discussions, it is argued that personal space emerges as a salient factor for politeness in Finland, while verbal and nonverbal rapport is more important in France. These overarching themes - personal space and rapport - led to discussions about greetings, silence and holding doors open. Greeting and opening doors appeared more categorical in France, while silence was better tolerated in Finland. In addition to dominant norms, regional and individual variations were reported. Overall, (im)politeness norms appeared to be vaguer in Finland than in France. Building upon this study, future research should examine if changes emerge in Finnish (im)politeness norms related to rapport or if space remains more valued.