A Minimal Negotiation Situation

Pairs of unacquainted male subjects listened to music via headsets controlled by a single loudness control. Post-session measures of first impressions of the other person indicated that interpersonal liking was influenced by minimal communication and curvilinearly related to the magnitude of the difference between the level of individual preference and dyadic loudness. Loudness preference was stable over a one-week period, and the preparation appears useful for studying minimal negotiations.