Mimicry of Social Emotions in Socially Anxious Individuals: An Investigation into the Effects of Social Anxiety and Mimicry of Pupil Dilation on Virtual Avatar Evaluations and the Desire for Future Interactions

Previous research has suggested that social perception can be greatly influenced by stress and anxiety during an interaction, however the research on the influence of mimicry in social interactions is scarce. In this study, we examine how different levels of anxiety influence how individuals evaluate virtual avatars that mimic their pupil dilation compared to when it is not mimicked. We additionally examine how likely individuals are to partake in a future interaction with the avatars. Participants were presented with 6 different avatars reiterating a different story each time. Their level of anxiety was measured using the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) questionnaire prior to being presented with the avatars. Afterwards, participants filled out a questionnaire including questions measuring how the individuals perceived the avatars. The results from the questionnaire were taken and examined. Our findings showed that participants with high and low social anxiety did not...Show morePrevious research has suggested that social perception can be greatly influenced by stress and anxiety during an interaction, however the research on the influence of mimicry in social interactions is scarce. In this study, we examine how different levels of anxiety influence how individuals evaluate virtual avatars that mimic their pupil dilation compared to when it is not mimicked. We additionally examine how likely individuals are to partake in a future interaction with the avatars. Participants were presented with 6 different avatars reiterating a different story each time. Their level of anxiety was measured using the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) questionnaire prior to being presented with the avatars. Afterwards, participants filled out a questionnaire including questions measuring how the individuals perceived the avatars. The results from the questionnaire were taken and examined. Our findings showed that participants with high and low social anxiety did not evaluate the virtual avatars differently, regardless if mimicry occurred or not. However, we found that level of anxiety did influence responses on the Desire for a Future Interaction (DIF) questionnaire; those with low social anxiety are more likely to score higher on the DIF questionnaire, suggesting they are more likely to be willing to interact with the avatars again. However, given that previous research has found significant effects regarding how different levels of social anxiety influence social perception, we conclude that our findings do not support this; the level of social anxiety did not influence how participants evaluate the avatars, regardless if mimicry occurs or not.Show less

Leiden University Student Repository

Documents

In Collections

Mimicry of Social Emotions in Socially Anxious Individuals: An Investigation into the Effects of Social Anxiety and Mimicry of Pupil Dilation on Virtual Avatar Evaluations and the Desire for Future Interactions