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Prosocial Consequences of Interpersonal Synchrony: A Meta-Analysis
Miriam Rennung1, Anja S Göritz1
1Department of Occupational and Consumer Psychology, University of Freiburg, Germany.
Zeitschrift Fur Psychologie
|January 21, 2017
Summary
Interpersonal synchrony, when movements align, enhances prosociality. This meta-analysis of 60 studies confirms a medium effect on attitudes and behaviors, moderated by experimenter influence and intentionality.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Behavioral Science
- Cognitive Neuroscience
Background:
- Interpersonal synchrony, the alignment of actions or sensations between individuals, is crucial for social connection.
- Previous research suggests a link between interpersonal synchrony and prosocial behavior, but findings are fragmented.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize existing research on the causal impact of interpersonal synchrony on prosociality.
- To quantify the effect size of interpersonal synchrony on prosocial attitudes and behaviors.
Main Methods:
- A meta-analysis of 60 published and unpublished experiments was conducted.
- Studies compared conditions of interpersonal synchrony against control conditions.
- Moderating effects of experimenter influence and intentionality were examined.
Main Results:
- Interpersonal synchrony exerts a medium effect on prosociality, influencing both attitudes and behaviors.
- The magnitude of the effect is moderated by experimenter effects and the intentionality of the synchrony.
- A consistent positive relationship was found across diverse experimental settings.
Conclusions:
- Interpersonal synchrony is a significant factor promoting prosociality.
- Understanding moderating factors like intentionality can refine interventions.
- Future research should explore mechanisms and real-world applications of synchrony-induced prosociality.
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