Abstract
We investigate whether smile mimicry and emotional contagion are evident in non-text-based computer-mediated communication (CMC). Via an ostensibly real-time audio-visual CMC platform, participants interacted with a confederate who either smiled radiantly or displayed a neutral expression throughout the interaction. Automatic analyses of expressions displayed by participants indicated that smile mimicry was at play: A higher level of activation of the facial muscle that characterizes genuine smiles was observed among participants who interacted with the smiling confederate than among participants who interacted with the unexpressive confederate. However, there was no difference in the self-reported level of joviality between participants in the two conditions. Our findings demonstrate that people mimic smiles in audio-visual CMC, but that even though the diffusion of emotions has been documented in text-based CMC in previous studies, we find no convincing support for the phenomenon of emotional contagion in non-text-based CMC.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 2077 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Frontiers in Psychology |
| Volume | 9 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 5 Nov 2018 |
Keywords
- smile mimicry
- emotional contagion
- computer-mediated communication
- audio-visual communication
- nonverbal behavior
- FACIAL EXPRESSIONS
- BEHAVIORAL MIMICRY
- SOCIAL-INTERACTION
- DUCHENNE SMILE
- PERCEPTION
- RECIPROCITY
- TASK
Cite this
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Smile Mimicry and Emotional Contagion in Audio-Visual Computer-Mediated Communication. / Mui, Phoebe H. C.; Goudbeek, Martijn B.; Roex, Camiel; Spierts, Wout; Swerts, Marc G. J.
In: Frontiers in Psychology, Vol. 9, 2077, 05.11.2018.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Smile Mimicry and Emotional Contagion in Audio-Visual Computer-Mediated Communication
AU - Mui, Phoebe H. C.
AU - Goudbeek, Martijn B.
AU - Roex, Camiel
AU - Spierts, Wout
AU - Swerts, Marc G. J.
PY - 2018/11/5
Y1 - 2018/11/5
N2 - We investigate whether smile mimicry and emotional contagion are evident in non-text-based computer-mediated communication (CMC). Via an ostensibly real-time audio-visual CMC platform, participants interacted with a confederate who either smiled radiantly or displayed a neutral expression throughout the interaction. Automatic analyses of expressions displayed by participants indicated that smile mimicry was at play: A higher level of activation of the facial muscle that characterizes genuine smiles was observed among participants who interacted with the smiling confederate than among participants who interacted with the unexpressive confederate. However, there was no difference in the self-reported level of joviality between participants in the two conditions. Our findings demonstrate that people mimic smiles in audio-visual CMC, but that even though the diffusion of emotions has been documented in text-based CMC in previous studies, we find no convincing support for the phenomenon of emotional contagion in non-text-based CMC.
AB - We investigate whether smile mimicry and emotional contagion are evident in non-text-based computer-mediated communication (CMC). Via an ostensibly real-time audio-visual CMC platform, participants interacted with a confederate who either smiled radiantly or displayed a neutral expression throughout the interaction. Automatic analyses of expressions displayed by participants indicated that smile mimicry was at play: A higher level of activation of the facial muscle that characterizes genuine smiles was observed among participants who interacted with the smiling confederate than among participants who interacted with the unexpressive confederate. However, there was no difference in the self-reported level of joviality between participants in the two conditions. Our findings demonstrate that people mimic smiles in audio-visual CMC, but that even though the diffusion of emotions has been documented in text-based CMC in previous studies, we find no convincing support for the phenomenon of emotional contagion in non-text-based CMC.
KW - smile mimicry
KW - emotional contagion
KW - computer-mediated communication
KW - audio-visual communication
KW - nonverbal behavior
KW - FACIAL EXPRESSIONS
KW - BEHAVIORAL MIMICRY
KW - SOCIAL-INTERACTION
KW - DUCHENNE SMILE
KW - PERCEPTION
KW - RECIPROCITY
KW - TASK
U2 - 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02077
DO - 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02077
M3 - Article
VL - 9
JO - Frontiers in Psychology
JF - Frontiers in Psychology
SN - 1664-1078
M1 - 2077
ER -