Regulating shared reality with micro-dynamics in the form of conversation

Area of Science:

• Social Psychology
• Communication Studies
• Sociology

Background:

• Establishing shared understanding is crucial in communication.
• Shared reality can be assessed objectively or subjectively.
• Conversational micro-dynamics play a key role in subjective assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the role of conversational micro-dynamics in developing and regulating shared reality.
• To examine these dynamics across different communication contexts.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies on communication and shared reality.
• Analysis of micro-dynamics in intergroup, computer-mediated, and intimate communication.

Main Results:

• Micro-dynamics provide subjective feedback on shared viewpoints.
• These subtle cues are significant in forming a sense of shared reality.
• The review synthesizes findings from diverse communication contexts.

Conclusions:

• Conversational micro-dynamics are powerful in establishing shared reality.
• Their influence is comparable to explicit social validation methods.
• Understanding micro-dynamics is key to effective communication and relationship building.