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From making to being the excuse: An analysis of deception and verbal/nonverbal issues

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Abstract

Excuse-making is defined, and the issues of deception and verbal/nonverbal presentations are discussed in regard to the excuse process. Subsequently, the deception and verbal/nonverbal issues are described in greater detail in the context of whether the excuse occurs temporally after a negative outcome (retrospective), before a negative outcome (anticipatory), or as part of the characterological makeup of the person (incorporated). Going from retrospective to anticipatory to incorporated excuses, it is concluded that the role of nonverbal factors increases. Likewise, in the progression from making to “being” the excuse, it is argued that self- and other-deception also become more pervasive.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. 305 Fraser Hall, Graduate Training Program in Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychology, The University of Kansas, 66045, Lawrence, Kansas

    C. R. Snyder

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  1. C. R. Snyder
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  2. Raymond L. Higgins
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Snyder, C.R., Higgins, R.L. From making to being the excuse: An analysis of deception and verbal/nonverbal issues. J Nonverbal Behav 12, 237–252 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00987594

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