University of Perpetual Help System Laguna- JONELTA Biñan Campus 1

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University of Perpetual Help system

UPH Compound, National Highway, Sto. Niño,
City of Biñan, Laguna

Psychology Department

Experiment 4
Verbal appeal and Body language

Submitted by:
Arengo, Norielle Faith F.
C18-2233-377

Submitted to:
Ma’am Perez-Torres, Mary Easter Claire

March 6, 2020
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I. Introduction

Social status is very a confidential and critical topic in our society because there

are no specific ways on how to measure and how to make a certain claim about who

has a higher power and level in the society. It is mainly called “social class”. And

this term is mainly used in psychology, anthropology, and sociology and this is to

indicate whether the level of respect and honor is associated and affects the

person’s position to the society. According to Kohn and Stomcynski 1990, “Social

classes are groups defined in terms of their relationship to ownership and control

over the means of production, and their control over the labor power of others”.

Which means social status is depended on a person’s position in the society, on how

powerful and credible he/she is and how people know a person based on financial

and level of fame. In this fourth experiment, it will deal with the verbal appeal and

body language of a person to the subject and it is depended by the actor’s physical

appearance. One as a beggar which is considered as low social class in society and

the other one as a person with casual wear on him. Which may be considered as

middle class in the society. This experiment’s goal is to see if social status may

significantly affect the verbal appeal and body language of a subject/respondent

towards the experimenter. This also to see if a person’s physical appearance may

affect how other people treat the person. If someone who wears casually be

considered an average person and will be more considered in giving solicitations

compared to a person dressed as a beggar. By conducting this experiment, can help

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to see whether the people in Barangay San Antonio Binan (Bayan) is willing to give

and considerate either to the one wearing casual wear or as a beggar.

II. Methodology

For this fourth laboratory experiment will deal with the verbal appeal and body

language of a person to the subject. The apparatus that is needed is a stopwatch,

papers for data recording and a camera for documentation both for video recording and

taking a photo. And 2 actors will be needed, one who will wear a casual get up and

someone who will act as a beggar. Each actor will act as a solicitor; both will solicit

under a required time limit and both have specific instructions that are needed to follow.

While the two experimenter will act, the other two will need to document the experiment

and the other one need to write the results with a piece of paper. The experiment is

divided into two parts. The first part will run for 30 minutes each actor, the focus in this

part is the physical intimacy towards a subject meaning touching and eye contact while

asking a subject if he/she can give a peso without stating any reason why. The second

part of the experiment also runs for 30 minutes each actor. For the second part, each

actor will not make any physical or eye contact towards a subject but will just state a

reason why he/she needs a peso. Both parts of the experiment should be recorded,

documented and listed down positive/negative reactions from all subjects.

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III. Result
Part 1 of the experiment

Table 1. Results of actor 1 (Beggar) solicitation

Respondents Reaction time Negative/Positive

response and amount

1 (Male) 3. 11 Negative (0)
2 (Female) 14.02 Positive (1 peso)
3 (Male) 2.32 Negative (0)
4 (Male) 2.38 Negative (0)
5 (Male) 4.32 Negative (0)
6 (Female) 1.14 Negative (0)
7 (Male) 12.52 Positive (5 pesos)
8 (Female) 1.21 Negative (0)
9 (Female) 7.46 Negative (0)
10 (Female) 7.13 Negative (0)
Total of: 6 Pesos

Table 2. Results of Actor 2 (casual wear) solicitation

Respondents Reaction time Negative/Positive

response and amount

1 (Male) 2.56 Negative
2 (Male) 8.22 Negative
3 (Male) 7.30 Negative
4 (Male) 2.53 Negative
5 (Female) 17.47 Positive (10 pesos)
6 (Female) 1.29 Negative
7 (Female) 5.72 Negative
8 (Male) 8.40 Negative
9 (Female) 8.40 Negative
10 (Female) 5.92 Negative
Total of: (10 peos)

Analysis:
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As seen in table 1, actor 1 only received a total of 6 pesos from two different

people while actor 2 receive 10 pesos from a person. Still the second actor, the one in

casual wear, earned more money than actor 1.

Part 2 of the experiment

Table 3. Results of actor 1 (Beggar) solicitation

Respondents Reaction Time Negative/ Positive

response and amount

1 (Male) 7.39 Negative
2 (Male) 7.39 Negative
3 (Male) 7.29 Negative
4 (Male) 4.32 Negative
5 (Male) 4.32 Negative
6 (Female) 4.32 Negative
7 (Female) 4.32 Negative
8 (Female) 2.93 Negative
9 (Female) 3.23 Negative
10 (Female) 4.57 Negative
Total of: 0 Pesos

Table 4. Results of Actor 2 (casual wear) solicitation

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Respondents Reaction Time Negative/ Positive

response and amount

1 (Female) 15.90 Negative
2 (Male) 10.30 Positive (50 Pesos)
3 (Male) 10.93 Positive (50 pesos)
4 (Male) 11.64 Positive (20 pesos)
5 (Female) 45.81 Positive (20 pesos)
6 (Female) 2.03 Positive (20 pesos)
7 (Male) 22.50 Positive (20 pesos)
8 (Female) 10.47 Positive (10 pesos)
9 (Male) 22.50 Positive (10 pesos)
10 (Male) 2.07 Negative
Total of: 200 pesos

Analysis:

As seen in the tables 3 and 4, Actor 1 did not receive any money despite the

reasons of being starving. However, actor 2 earned 200 pesos for reasoning out that he

lost his wallet somewhere and could not go home without any money as he lives in

Cabuyao.

IV. Discussion
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1. Does physical intimacy affects people’s reaction to request?

Based in the conducted experiment, physical intimacy affect people’s reaction to a

request. Although, physical apperance has an effect and an option to people reacting

towards a request and even physical touch or eye contact. Based on Psychology today,

physical initmacy whether a person knows each other or not, may have a click or

connection that can caught attention of both parties. But their reaction will based on the

person’s physical appearance and assumed motive. And in this experiment, people

avoid someone who does not look trustworthy.

2.Is there a difference when the solicitor looks at them straight to the eye,

off and touches the addressee?

Based on my experience, there was no difference when the beggar had physical

touch nor looked at the eyes directly. However, for the one with casual wear physical

touch can shock or surprise the subject and the tendency is for them to walk away as

they think it is a modus.

3. Does tone of voice and warm gesture increase the persuasive appeal of

the solicitors? What about physical appearance? Who received more money?

The tone of voice and warm gestures greatly increased the persuasive appeal of

the one with casual wear compared to the one who portrayed as the beggar. Physical

appearance mattered to those people living within the location of the experiment. The
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one with casual wear received a lot more money compared to the beggar. In total of part

1 and part 2, the beggar earned only 6 pesos while for the second part, the one with

casual wear earned exactly a hundred peso.

4. What useful tips can be suggested to panhandlers and mendicants?

There are a lot of things I want to suggest to panhandlers and mendicants,

however I want to suggest that they find a way to dress up well and go to the

governments to seek for help on how they can get a schooling in TESDA even if the

study is for a basic job like sewing or construction, it will be a huge help for them to a

have a starter movement for their further changes in their current low life situation.

5. Compare the findings.

By comparing the results of actor 1 and actor 2, actor 2 who was the one in

casual wear earned way more money with actor one who was the one portrayed as a

beggar. Actor 2 earned 200 pesos compared to actor 1 who earned 6 pesos with both

experiments combined. While on the second part, actor 1 did not even get any peso or

response despite the reason of being hungry compared to actor 2 who gained 200

pesos for the reason that he dropped his wallet and needs to go home immediately.

V. Conclusion
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In conclusion, people usually based their entertainment and consideration based on

someone’s physical appearance and social status. Basically the beggar did not get any

sympathy and attention because of what she was wearing. Although, for the second

actor who dressed up casually, people’s attention were caught by just one call and even

had the chance to talk to and entertain. For the first part, both actors just asked for

money without any reasons included a physical touch and eye contact. As seen in

tables 1 and 2, actor 1 only gained 6 pesos from 2 respondents while actor 2 gained 10

pesos from 1 respondent. For the second part of the experiment, both actors asked for

money with a reason, for actor 1 it was because she was so hungry and for actor 2 it

was because he lost his wallet and needed to gome home. As seen in tables 3 and 4,

actor 1 did not caught any attention and did not receive any money despite the fact of

being hungry and wanting something to eat. While actor 2 received 200 pesos from 8

persons he talked to because of his reason that he lost his wallet and could not get

home. People usually change the side of their roads that their walking on to just to pass

the beggar. However, when the one in casual wear they did not change the sides they

just walked passed through him like a normal person does. In my perspective, social

class or status is a huge deal in our society on whom a person should be giving a

respect and honor. Which is wrong for we are losing our humanity for those that are not

lucky to have a high class in this society.

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VI. Appendix
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VII. Reference

The Power of Touch. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/articles/201303/the-power-touch

obo. (2020, February 20). Retrieved from

https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780199828340/obo-
9780199828340-0085.xml

Social Status. (2015, August 26). Retrieved from

https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychpedia/social-status

Waytz, A. (2009, December 8). The Psychology of Social Status. Retrieved from
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-psychology-of-social/