AUTHOR=Cornejo Carlos , Hurtado Esteban , Cuadros Zamara , Torres-Araneda Alejandra , Paredes Javiera , Olivares Himmbler , Carré David , Robledo Juan P. 

TITLE=Dynamics of Simultaneous and Imitative Bodily Coordination in Trust and Distrust

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=Volume 9 - 2018

YEAR=2018

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01546

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01546

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=Body synchronization between interacting people involves coordinative movements in time,
5 space and form. The introduction of newer technologies for automated video analysis and motion
6 tracking has considerably improved the accurate measurement of coordination, particularly in
7 temporal and spatial terms. However, the form of interpersonal coordination has been less
8 explored. In the present study we address this gap exploring the effect of trust on temporal and
9 morphological patterns of interpersonal coordination. We adapted an optical motion-capture
10 system to record spontaneous body movements in pairs of individuals engaged in natural
11 conversations. We conducted two experiments in which we manipulated trust through a breach
12 of expectancy (Study 1: 10 trustful and 10 distrustful participants) and friendship (Study 2: 20
13 dyads of friends and 20 dyads of strangers). In Study 1, results show the participants’ strong,
14 early mirror-like coordination in response to the confederates’ breach of trust. In Study 2, imitative
15 coordination tended to be more pronounced in pairs of friends than in pairs of non-friends. Overall,
16 our results show not only that listeners move in reaction to speakers, but also that speakers react
17 to listeners with a chain of dynamic coordination patterns affected by the immediate disposition
18 of, and long-term relationship with, their interlocutors.