This study analyzes how an instructor's accommodation tactic, in response to a student using a swear word, affects students' perceptions of the instructor's similarity and credibility, and how perceptions of similarity and credibility affect students' intrinsic motivation to learn. Sex of the instructor was also manipulated in this study based on literature indicating that an instructor's sex may affect students' perceptions of the instructor's similarity, credibility, and students' intrinsic motivation to learn course material. A 2 (swear word) x 2 (accommodation tactic) x 2 (sex of instructor) survey design was created to test hypotheses and research questions. Participants (N = 396) were randomly assigned to read hypothetical scenarios where either a male or female instructor converged or diverged in response to a student who used the swear word suck or damn. Results revealed that instructors who diverged, regardless of the swear word used, were perceived as more similar to the student than instructors who converged. Also, findings showed that when an instructor converges their communication in response to a student who swears that it can reduce perceptions of credibility amongst all three subdimensions of credibility: trustworthiness, goodwill, and competence. Perceptions of similarity and credibility positively impacted a student's intrinsic motivation to learn course material. The theoretical and pragmatic importance of this study is discussed throughout the remainder of the manuscript.
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