Nonverbal synchrony and affect in dyadic interactions

Abstract

In an experiment on dyadic social interaction, we invited participants to verbal interactions in cooperative, competitive, and ‘fun task’ conditions. We focused on the link between interactants’ affectivity and their nonverbal synchrony, and explored which further variables contributed to affectivity: interactants’ personality traits, sex, and the prescribed interaction tasks. Nonverbal synchrony was quantified by the coordination of interactants’ body movement, using an automated video-analysis algorithm (motion energy analysis). Traits were assessed with standard questionnaires of personality, attachment, interactional style, psychopathology, and interpersonal reactivity. We included 168 previously unacquainted individuals who were randomly allocated to same-sex dyads (84 females, 84 males, mean age 27.8 years). Dyads discussed four topics of general interest drawn from an urn of eight topics, and finally engaged in a fun interaction. Each interaction lasted 5 min. In between interactions, participants repeatedly assessed their affect. Using hierarchical linear modeling, we found moderate to strong effect sizes for synchrony to occur, especially in competitive and fun task conditions. Positive affect was associated positively with synchrony, negative affect was associated negatively. As for causal direction, data supported the interpretation that synchrony entailed affect rather than vice versa. The link between nonverbal synchrony and affect was strongest in female dyads. The findings extend previous reports of synchrony and mimicry associated with emotion in relationships and suggest a possible mechanism of the synchrony-affect correlation.

Dynamics of Simultaneous and Imitative Bodily Coordination in Trust and Distrust

“…Moreover, these results are in line with investigations conducted within the experimental contexts of dyadic conversations and psychotherapy settings. These studies reveal that interpersonal coordination patterns are sensitive to the qualities of relationships, such as affect, linking, familiarity and rapport (Grahe and Bernieri, 1999; Nagaoka et al, 2007; Nagaoka and Komori, 2008; Ramseyer and Tschacher, 2011; Paxton and Dale, 2013a; Tschacher et al, 2014). Our findings indicate that interpersonal coordination patterns are also sensitive to another quality of relationships: the trust between interacting people.…”

The sense of agency – a phenomenological consequence of enacting sensorimotor schemes

“…Streeck et al 2011;Tschacher et al 2014;Konvalinka et al 2011;Abney et al 2014). These coordination patterns are part of how individual SM schemes are enacted.…”

Triadic Synchrony: Application of Multiple Wavelet Coherence to a Small Group Conversation

“…In the early stage of nonverbal research, generating time-series movement data or coding behaviors has been resource intensive, or even painstaking, which hindered the theoretical and/or practical development of (nonverbal) behavioral research on a group interaction. Some recent studies began to utilize automated techniques to generate time-series movement data [11]- [15]. These novel techniques could reduce the cost of conducting nonverbal research, which will enable us to obtain a better understanding of small group interaction from the perspective of body movement and nonverbal behavior.…”

“…Coding behaviors is time-consuming and painstaking in itself and requires establishing reliability among coders. To address this problem, some recent studies have utilized automated techniques to generate time-series movement data; they use a depth sensor, Kinect (Microsoft) [11], or employ video-tracking techniques [12]- [15]. Behavioral data acquired by these techniques would be less costly as well as highly reliable.…”