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Emojis as social information in digital communication
Thorsten M Erle1, Karoline Schmid2, Simon H Goslar1
1Department of Social Psychology, Tilburg University.
Emotion (Washington, D.C.)
|August 5, 2021
Summary
Emojis effectively convey emotional intensity and valence in digital communication, functioning similarly to facial expressions. They enhance understanding and empathy, supporting their role as quasi-nonverbal cues in online interactions.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Communication Studies
- Human-Computer Interaction
Background:
- Digital communication increasingly replaces face-to-face interaction.
- Nonverbal cues like facial expressions are crucial in face-to-face communication.
- The role of digital equivalents, such as emojis, requires investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the functional equivalence of emojis compared to facial expressions.
- To assess emojis' effectiveness in conveying emotionality and disambiguating digital discourse.
- To examine emojis' social-emotional properties based on the Emotion as Social Information (EASI) model.
Main Methods:
- Eleven high-powered experiments were conducted.
- The study analyzed the impact of emojis on perceived emotional intensity and valence.
- Research examined how emojis influence affective and inferential processes, leading to behavioral intentions.
Main Results:
- Messages with emojis were perceived as more emotionally intense and extreme in valence.
- The effect of emojis on valence was mediated by perceived emotional intensity.
- Emojis elicited affective (emotion contagion) and inferential (understanding) processes, similar to facial expressions.
Conclusions:
- Emojis serve as effective quasi-nonverbal cues in digital communication, mirroring facial expressions' functions.
- Findings support the functional equivalence of emojis and facial expressions in eliciting affective and inferential responses.
- The study proposes integrating emoji research with the EASI model for modern communication contexts.
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