What is it about?
we describe a practical way of how to measure the duration (in seconds) of this shared present moment, the 'social present'. We used body movement times series of dyads in conversations for it. We found some personality traits that are associated with this duration, for example, the personality trait "openness for new experiences".
Featured Image
Why is it important?
the present moment is that special stretch of time during which we are conscious of the world and of ourselves. So it is important to find out more about this peculiar time window, and by which traits and situational condition it can be modified. Our measurement of the social present is, as far as we know, new. The present of individuals has been measured before, and there are several operationalizations for this individual present. On average, it lasts around 3 seconds. We found an average social present of 6.0 seconds... Coincidence?
Perspectives
This research is very much in its beginnings. I hope other groups will try out our methodological approach with their data of social interaction, maybe of psychotherapist and client, or other social interactions.
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Tschacher
Universitat Bern
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Sharing the Now in the Social Present: Duration of Nonverbal Synchrony Is Linked With Personality, Journal of Personality, February 2017, Wiley,
DOI: 10.1111/jopy.12298.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
