Strangers in sync: Achieving embodied rapport through shared movements

This paper examines the emergence of behavioral synchrony among strangers in the context of self-disclosure, and their path in predicting interaction quality. Specifically, we hypothesize that behavioral synchrony mediates the direct effect of self-disclosure on the development of embodied rapport. Same-sex stranger pairs (n = 94) were randomly assigned to a video recorded self-disclosure or control condition, and afterward each member rated their social interaction. Following the procedure used by Bernieri, Reznick, and Rosenthal (1988), two trained judges independently watched each video record and rated each pair interaction on behavioral synchrony. Bootstrapping analyses provide support for the hypothesized mediating effect of behavioral synchrony, which emerged as independent of the effects of self-other overlap and positive affect. The authors discuss implications of behavioral synchrony for relationship formation processes and the inevitable entwinement of behavior and judgments in light of embodied cognition.

► Synchrony is observed as a behavioral process variable in relationship formation.
► Stranger dyads randomly assigned to self-disclose report more embodied rapport.
► Stranger dyads randomly assigned to self-disclose display more synchrony.
► Synchrony mediates the direct effect of self-disclosure on embodied rapport.
► Results control for indirect effects of self-other overlap and positive affect.