2023 West AffectContagion
Chapter Two presents a comprehensive theory and review of affect contagion, emphasizing the distinction between physiological covariation (simultaneous, time‑locked changes in partners’ autonomic signals) and physiological linkage (directional, predictive influence of one partner’s physiology on the other). The authors outline the autonomic indices most suited for detecting these processes—pre‑ejection period (PEP) for sympathetic activity, respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) and heart‑rate variability (HRV) for parasympathetic tone, as well as skin conductance and pupil dilation. They integrate behavioral mimicry (facial, vocal, postural) as a conduit for emotional transmission and detail moderators such as relational closeness, status asymmetry, affect valence, arousal, and contextual cues (crowd size, temperature). Methodologically, the chapter surveys analytic tools for dyadic time‑series data, including cross‑correlation, Granger causality, dynamic time warping, and the actor‑partner interdependence model (APIM). Empirical evidence from laboratory dyads, mother‑infant pairs, and small groups (e.g., therapist‑client triads) illustrates how covariation and linkage predict shared affective experience. The authors extend the framework to real‑world settings, highlighting work on physiological synchrony during organ transplant surgeries and the potential for affect contagion to shape newcomer integration in teams. The chapter concludes with a forward‑looking agenda: isolating salient environmental cues, expanding to larger groups, leveraging wearable technology for field studies, and refining statistical models to capture the dynamic, multi‑partner nature of affect contagion.
Topics
Dual Pathways of Physiologic Affect Contagion: Covariation vs. Linkage
Defines the two complementary mechanisms of affect contagion: physiological covariation—simultaneous, time‑locked changes in partners’ autonomic signals—and physiological linkage—directional, predictive influence of one partner’s physiology on the other. Explains how each pathway contributes to shared emotional experience.
Autonomic Measures for Detecting Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Synchrony
Reviews the autonomic indices most suited for capturing affect contagion: pre‑ejection period (PEP) for sympathetic activity, respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) and heart‑rate variability (HRV) for parasympathetic tone, plus skin conductance and pupil dilation. Discusses their temporal resolution and interpretive value for synchrony detection.
Moderators of Affect Contagion: Relational, Status, Valence, Arousal, and Contextual Cues
Details the high‑level factors that shape the strength and direction of contagion, including relational closeness, status asymmetry, affect valence and arousal, crowd size, ambient temperature, and other contextual cues.
Analytic Approaches for Dyadic and Multi‑Partner Time‑Series Data
Summarizes statistical toolkits for modeling covariation and linkage: cross‑correlation, Granger causality, dynamic time warping, the actor‑partner interdependence model (APIM), multilevel modeling, and extensions for larger networks.
Empirical Evidence: From Laboratory Dyads to Real‑World Teams and Surgical Settings
Synthesizes findings across experimental and field contexts—laboratory dyads, mother‑infant pairs, therapist‑client triads, organ‑transplant surgical teams, and newcomer integration in organizations—showing that physiological covariation and linkage predict shared affective experience.
Future Directions: Scaling to Larger Groups, Wearable Technology, and Advanced Causal Modeling
Outlines a forward‑looking agenda: isolating salient environmental cues, expanding research to fluid, multi‑partner groups, leveraging wearable sensors for ambulatory field studies, and refining causal models to capture dynamic, multi‑partner affect contagion.