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Through a Glass Darkly: Effects of Smiling and Visibility on Recognition and Avoidance in Passing Encounters
Abstract
This study examined the patterns of recognition and avoidance in pedestrians as they walked past a confederate. The first purpose of the study was to replicate the results of an earlier experiment (Patterson, Webb, & Schwartz, 200224.
Patterson , M. L. , Webb , A. and Schwartz , W. 2002 . Passing encounters: Patterns of recognition and avoidance in pedestrians . Basic and Applied Social Psychology , 24 : 57 – 66 . [Taylor & Francis Online], [Web of Science ®], [CSA]View all references) showing that the addition of a smile from the confederate greatly increased pedestrians’ responsiveness. A second purpose was to determine if confederates’ visibility (wearing sunglasses or not) in these passing encounters would affect pedestrians’ reactions and provide insight regarding the functions involved in these events. Specifically, the effects of condition (avoid, look‐only, and look and smile), sex of confederate, and sunglasses on passing pedestrians were examined in a field study on 183 participants. A log‐linear analysis of the results provided support for the first hypothesis with more glances, smiles, and nods in the look and smile condition than in the avoid and look‐only conditions. The hypotheses that confederates who wore sunglasses would receive fewer glances than those who did not and that this effect would be greater for the male confederate were not supported. There was, however, a significant Sunglasses × Sex of Confederate effect on smiles, with pedestrians smiling more at the male confederate when he wore sunglasses than when he did not and smiling less at the female confederate when she wore sunglasses than when she did not. The contrasting effect of sunglasses for the male and female confederate was discussed in terms of the different functions of a smile in pedestrian encounters.
... In particular, we measured participants' proxemic behaviors including translation (i.e., movement paths) and head orientation while moving among virtual others in the IVE. Reactions such as looking toward rather than away from the person in need (suggesting approach vs. avoidance; e.g., Goffman, 1963;Patterson & Tubbs, 2005), actually approaching the person, and spending more time near the person were used as potential behavioral indicators of willingness to interact with and help the needy person. The specific dependent variables in Study 2 were participants' location relative to the target person and head orientation (looking at or away from the person). ...
... Similarly, Strayer and Roberts (1997) found that children were willing to get physically closer to people with whom they empathized. Based on such studies (as well as Goffman, 1963, andPatterson &Tubbs, 2005), we hypothesized that the higher a person's score on the dispositional compassion measures, (a) the more he or she would look at the virtual needy person and (b) the closer to the needy person he or she would approach and stay. ...
... Similarly, Strayer and Roberts (1997) found that children were willing to get physically closer to people with whom they empathized. Based on such studies (as well as Goffman, 1963, andPatterson &Tubbs, 2005), we hypothesized that the higher a person's score on the dispositional compassion measures, (a) the more he or she would look at the virtual needy person and (b) the closer to the needy person he or she would approach and stay. ...
As virtual environments (VEs) become increasingly central to people's lives (Terry, 2002), understanding reactions to VEs may be as important as understanding behavior in the real world (Yee, Bailenson, Urbanek, Chang, & Merget, 2007). Immersive Virtual Environment Technology (IVET), which is now being used in psychological research (Blascovich et al., 2002), can provide greater experimental control, more precise measurement, ease of replication across participants, and high ecological validity, making it attractive for researchers. It also can create links between researchers who study basic social psychological processes and those who study new media. In two studies we examined people's reactions as they navigated through a virtual world and interacted with virtual people, some of whom needed help. Participants' compassion and tendency to experience personal distress predicted emotional reactions (concern) and proxemic behavior (gaze orientation and degree of interpersonal distance) to a virtual person in need but not to a control person. The results support the use of IVET and proxemic variables to measure compassion unobtrusively and they encourage the use of IVET to advance our understanding of people's behavior in and reactions to virtual worlds and new media.
... To pursue this issue further, we examined these micro-interactions between pedestrians in a series of studies. In samples from an urban area in the Midwest, we found that, as confederates initiated greater involvement toward an approaching pedestrian [i.e., from avoid, to look, to look and smile (LS)], glances, smiles, nods, and greetings toward the confederates increased (Patterson and Tubbs 2005;Patterson et al. 2002). ...
... It seems clear that the absent engagement of mobile device use adversely affects involvement with in-person conversational partners (Bugeja 2005;Glaser 2007;Hills et al. 2009), but do these distracting effects extend to the brief passing encounters of pedestrians? First, we hypothesized that the earlier condition main effect (Patterson et al. 2002(Patterson et al. , 2007Patterson and Tubbs 2005) will be replicated. That is, increased confederate involvement will precipitate more glances, smiles, nods, and greetings from participants. ...
... In earlier studies, inter-rater reliabilities, based on Kappa (Cohen 1960) and computed on the judgments of the confederates and observers, ranged from approximately .60-.95 (Patterson et al. 2002(Patterson et al. , 2007Patterson and Tubbs 2005). In general, the Kappas were lower in the present study: glances = .56, ...
Mobile communication technology plays an increasingly pervasive role in everyday life. This study examined one aspect of this role, specifically, the effects of mobile device use on the micro-interactions of pedestrians as they approached and passed a confederate. Over 400 participants were observed in a 2 (group: mobile device vs. control) × 3 [condition: look-only (L); look and smile (LS); look, smile, and greeting (LSG)] factorial design study measuring participants’ looks, smiles, nods, and greetings toward the confederates. Log-linear analyses of the dependent measures provided qualified support for the predicted decreased responsiveness from mobile device users. Specifically, a group by condition interaction on smiles showed that significantly fewer mobile device users than controls smiled at the confederates in the LSG condition. In addition, a group by sex of participant interaction on greetings indicated that significantly fewer female mobile device users offered greetings than males and females in the other conditions. The processes potentially mediating these effects are discussed and the broader influence of mobile devices on the micro-interactions of pedestrians is considered.
... Furthermore , none of these effects was repeated across the different dependent measures. In our earlier studies, effects found on one dependent measure (e.g., glances) were usually seen on other dependent measures (e.g., smiles or nods) and were easily interpretable (Patterson et al. 2002; Patterson & Tubbs, 2005 ). This was not the case here and, consequently , we decided to collapse the data from the two St. Louis locations. ...
... Finally, it is worth mentioning that the passing encounters paradigm employed in the present study may be an especially useful means of studying subtle interpersonal processes in a way that is both unobtrusive and nonreactive (Webb, Campbell, Schwartz, & Sechrest, 1966). In this study and two earlier ones (Patterson & Tubbs, 2005; Patterson, et al., 2002), we have found that in the 1–2 seconds of moving through the 10–12 foot passing zone, pedestrians respond selectively to the confederates' behavior. Although some people may be consciously aware of what they are doing under these circumstances, much of what happens in these subtle and fleeting exchanges probably reflects automatic social behavior (Bargh, 1997). ...
This study examined the microinteractions of pedestrians in Japan and in the United States as they walked past a confederate.
Specifically, the effects of culture, condition (avoid, look-only, and look plus smile) and sex of confederate on glances,
smiles, nods, and greetings by passing pedestrians were examined in a field study on over 1000 participants. The hypotheses
of (1) lower responsiveness in Japanese pedestrians than in American pedestrians and (2) increased responsiveness as a function
of condition were supported in a series of log-linear analyses of pedestrian glances, smiles, nods, and greetings. Both of
these main effects were, however, qualified by Culture X Condition interactions on smiles, nods, and greetings, with the large
condition effects present in the American pedestrians, but absent in the Japanese pedestrians. The results are discussed in
terms of the functions of glances, smiles, nods, and greetings in these brief encounters and how differing cultural norms
affect Japanese and American responsiveness. Finally, the limitations of this study and the broader utility of this research
paradigm are discussed.
... Simulated lab based social interactions can be conducted using role playing and a live confederate (Sayers, Bellack, Wade, Bennett, & Fong, 1995) or with an interactive previously recorded confederate (Gangestad, Simpson, Cousins, Gurver-Apgar, & Christensen, 2004;Simpson, Gangestad, Christensen, & Leck, 1999). Interaction with a confederate live or videotaped may be confounded by a multitude of variables such as the confederates' gender (Carli, LaFleur, & Loeber, 1995;Patterson, & Tubbs, 2005). ...
... Smiles often signal that individuals are happy or that they like the specific individual to whom they address the smile (Ekman, 1992(Ekman, , 1994. Consequently, smiling individuals are perceived as being happier (Otta, Abrosio, & Hoshino, 1996;Otta, Lira, Delevati, Cesar, & Pires, 1994), receive higher ratings of attractiveness, kindness, honesty, and competence (Hess, Beaupré, & Cheung, 2002;Reis et al., 1990), are liked more (Young & Beier, 1977;Palmer & Simmons, 1995), and are responded to with more cooperative behaviors, increased responsiveness, and affiliative signals (Gonzaga, Keltner, Londahl, & Smith, 2001;Patterson & Tubbs, 2005;Scharlemann, Eckel, Kacelnik, & Wilson, 2001) than people who do not smile. ...
... Overview of results. We have completed three studies examining the effects of confederate attention (avoid, look, and look plus smile) toward a passing stranger in both the St. Louis area (a college campus and in downtown) and on a college campus in Matsue City, Japan (Patterson et al., 2007; Patterson & Tubbs, 2005; Patterson et al., 2002). Across the three studies, we initiated more than 1800 trials and observed pedestrians' reactions to the confederates. ...
This article examines the declining attention to behavioral research in personality and social psychology and proposes an alternative to the typical laboratory paradigm for studying social behavior. Specifically, the study of "unfocused interactions," that is, situations where people simply share a common presence without talking to one another (Goffman, 1963), provides an opportunity for analyzing mundane behavior in everyday microinteractions. Because unfocused interactions are ubiquitous, may serve to prime subsequent behavior, and are likely to reflect implicit attitudes and judgments, they are well suited for studying the practical link between social cognition and everyday social behavior. Examples of research on unfocused interactions are described, and their utility in studying interpersonal processes is discussed.
This chapter moves from symmetrical to asymmetrical in addressing the logit log-linear model, which Knoke and Burke characterized as an analog of ordinary least squares (OLS) regression. It begins with a review of studies that have used logit log-linear analysis, and it then covers the fundamental components of logit models. Many of these components resemble those in the general log-linear model and can be interpreted in line with that technique. Notably, one of the primary differences between the logit log-linear model and logistic regression analysis involves the treatment of continuous measures; in loglinear analyses, such measures must be treated as covariates, but logistic regression models accommodate interval-level explanatory measures. The logit log-linear model accommodates more than one response measure. Logit log-linear analyses can be conducted in SPSS, which offers both general and logit programs, and an SPSS add-on module facilitates correspondence analysis and data visualization.
Nonverbal expectancy violations theory holds that positive violations produce more favorable communication outcomes than conformity to expectations, while negative violations produce less favorable ones, and that reward characteristics of the communicator mediate the interpretation and evaluation of violations. The factors affecting expectancies and the consequences of violating them are reviewed and compared to other models (discrepancy‐arousal, arousal‐labeling, arousal‐valence, sequential functional) employing similar assumptions and mediating variables. An experiment extending the model domain to immediacy violations and to interactions with familiar as well as unfamiliar others had friend and stranger dyads (N=82) engage in discussions during which one member of each pair significantly increased immediacy, significantly reduced it, or conformed to normal levels. Nonimmedicacy violations produced lower credibility ratings than high immediacy or conformity to expectations for both friends and strangers. Nonimmediacy was interpreted as communicating detachment, nonintimacy, dissimilarity and more dominance than normal immediacy, while high immediacy expressed the most intimacy, similarity, involvement and dominance. Implications for the role of ambiguity in violations are discussed.
This study examined the patterns of avoidance and recognition in pedestrians as they passed a confederate. Specifically, the effects of condition (avoid, look, and look plus smile) and sex of confederate on passing pedestrians were examined in a field study on over 600 participants. A log-linear analysis of the results showed support for the hypotheses of greater glancing toward the female confederates and greater glancing when the confederates looked and smiled. A Sex of Confederate x Condition interaction qualified these main effects, however, with the female confederates receiving a much higher proportion of glances than men in the look-only condition. Analyses of additional pedestrian responses among those who did glance at the confederates indicated that the look and smile condition produced higher levels of smiling, nodding, and greetings than did the other two conditions. The apparent processes underlying these subtle, brief exchanges are discussed, and the ecology of passing encounters is considered.
The expressive behaviors of adult and infant‐adult dyads are marked both by patterns of reciprocity and compensation. An alternative to the equilibrium and arousal‐labeling explanations of these findings is offered in the discrepancy‐arousal model. This model is similar to its predecessors in that physiological, cognitive, and affective components are central. However, the arousal component is given a more prominent role in predicting reciprocal or compensatory responses than in the arousal‐labeling theory. This modification permits discrepancy‐arousal to account for the reaction time of moment‐to‐moment influence, for the cycling of expressive involvement, for infant‐adult patterns of reciprocity and compensation, and for the etiology of adult patterns of mutual influence. Evidence supporting the discrepancy‐arousal position is reviewed. Predictive hypotheses are proposed and contrastive experimental tests are outlined.
REPORTS A SERIES OF EXPERIMENTS IN WHICH 1 OR BOTH MEMBERS OF A DYAD WERE PARTLY OR COMPLETELY INVISIBLE. RESULTS INDICATE: (1) WHEN 1 MEMBER IS PARTLY VISIBLE, THE MEMBER WITH MORE VISUAL INFORMATION TENDS TO BECOME DOMINANT, FEELS MORE COMFORTABLE, BECOME THE O. (2) WHEN VISION IS REDUCED, SPEECH IS LESS SYNCHRONIZED, WITH MORE INTERRUPTIONS AND PAUSES. (3) VISUAL FEEDBACK OF THE OTHER'S REACTION IS PROBABLY NEEDED; THE FACE IS THE MOST USEFUL AREA FOR THIS. (4) SEX DIFFERENCES: FEMALES ARE LESS COMFORTABLE WITHOUT VISUAL INFORMATION; MALES TEND TO DOMINATE EVEN UNDER CONDITIONS OF REDUCED VISIBILITY; IN MIXED DYADS, FEMALES ASSUMED THE ROLE OF THE O. (17 REF.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Presents a theoretical model designed to explain and predict reactive changes in the expression of interpersonal intimacy. The model proposes that in an interaction, sufficient changes in one person's intimacy behaviors (e.g., interpersonal distance, eye contact, and touch) precipitate arousal change in the other person. Depending upon the type of relationship, the setting, and other factors, this arousal change may be labeled either a positive or a negative emotional state. The model predicts that positively labeled states facilitate reciprocal or enhancing reactions to the other person's intimacy changes, while negatively labeled states facilitate compensatory reactions. Both types of reactive changes probably serve to maximize one's comfort or satisfaction in an interaction. Applications and limitations of the model are discussed. (48 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Four studies tested E. Goffman's (1963) rule of civil inattention in pedestrian passing—that pedestrians look at a distance to recognize the legitimacy of the other person and then look away to indicate that no special attention is intended. The 1st 2 studies filmed natural pedestrian passing and found no lowering of the head or averting of the gaze as pedestrians approached each other on a college campus. In the 3rd study, 18 undergraduates rated slide sequences of predicted normal and deviant pedestrian passes. Contrary to the predictions of the civil inattention rule, a continuous stare and no looking followed by a sudden look at a close distance were rated as the most polite, most friendly, and most natural of the sequences. Finally, in the 4th study, confederates who passed Ss on the street found that persons did not lower their heads or avert their gaze as they approached. The failure of multiple methods to find the civil inattention rule in operation suggests that it does not exist. (19 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
nonhuman primates
human infants
children
adults (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)