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People are more likely to believe quick answers than slow ones
Written by Robby Berman on February 23, 2021 Fact checked by Hannah Flynn, MS
A new study finds that people consistently disbelieve someone who responds slowly to questions.
Answering questions promptly promotes personal credibility.
Slow, thoughtful responses may count against people.
Whenever someone answers a question, their audience unconsciously considers the
way they reply in addition to the response itself. They make a quick, often unconscious, assessment of their sincerity: do they know what they are talking about? Is the answer truthful?
A new study from researchers at the Grenoble Ecole de Management in Grenoble, France, finds that the speed with which a person answers a question may provide an unintentional cue as to the person’s credibility.
When people pause before replying to a question, even for just a few seconds, their answers are perceived to be less sincere and credible than if they had replied immediately, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.