Patterns of Nonverbal Adaptation in Supportive Interactions |
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| Authors: | Graham D Bodie Kaitlin E Cannava Andrea J Vickery Susanne M Jones |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Communication Studies, Louisiana State University and Agricultural &2. Mechanical College and School of Media and Communication, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea.;3. Mechanical College.;4. Department of Communication Studies, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. |
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| Abstract: | This study seeks initial evidence for the patterns of nonverbal adaptation predictive of emotional improvement after a troubles talk conversation. A total of 128 dyads composed of two unacquainted individuals engaged in a 5-minute conversation about a stressful event, and the nonverbal behaviors of both the supportive listener and discloser were coded for immediacy. We detected a general pattern of matching between interlocutors, which was positively associated with disclosers’ reported emotional improvement above and beyond listener immediacy. Importantly, we found primary support for a discloser-matching model whereby emotional improvement is a function of disclosers matching highly immediate listeners but no support for a listener-matching model whereby emotional improvement is a function of listeners matching disclosers to signal empathy. |
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| Keywords: | Comforting Matching Mimicry Social Support Supportive Communication |
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