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Exploring collective emotion transmission in face-to-face interactions
Wen Zheng1,2, Ailin Yu1, Ping Fang3
1Department of Psychology, Weiqing Building, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
Plos One
|August 9, 2020
Summary
Negative collective emotions spread in face-to-face interactions through emotional contagion and feedback loops. This study reveals a model for how emotions diffuse, spread, and intensify within groups during in-person events.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Collective Behavior
- Emotion Science
Background:
- Collective emotion involves synchronized emotional responses within groups.
- Prior research primarily explored online (cyber) collective emotion transmission.
- Limited understanding exists regarding face-to-face collective emotion dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the transmission mechanisms of collective emotion in face-to-face settings.
- To examine how emotions spread from a subset of individuals to an entire group.
- To develop a model for understanding in-person collective emotion transmission.
Main Methods:
- Experimental design with 158 middle school students (ages 12-15).
- Induction of negative emotions (anger, disgust) using a social event news report.
- Random assignment of participants into 'transmitters' and 'receivers' roles for emotion sharing.
Main Results:
- Negative collective emotions transmitted from high-intensity to low-intensity individuals.
- Emotional contagion facilitated the convergence of emotions within the group.
- An 'emotional circle' effect, involving feedback, amplified emotion intensity.
Conclusions:
- A collective emotion transmission model encompassing diffusion, contagion, and accumulation was proposed.
- The study elucidates intrinsic features of in-person collective emotion dynamics.
- Findings offer theoretical insights for managing public events and group emotional responses.
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