The perpetuation of entrained behavior during computer-mediated communication

Abstract

The present investigation examined the development and persistence of mutual entrainment during dyadic computer-mediated interactions. Entrainment refers to the synchronization and/or modification of endogenous temporal rhythms by external forces (Ancona & Chong, 1996; Kelly, 1988; McGrath, Kelly, & Machatka, 1984). Our findings indicate that entrainment readily occurs during computer-mediated communication, as our participants altered their rates of communication to match those of a confederate who was responding at a consistently slow pace. Subsequently, when participants were paired during a second computer-mediated interaction session, their initial rates of entrainment transferred to these new groups and served to mutually influence each other's communication rates.

Keywords:

• Entrainment
• Computer-mediated communication
• Behavioral synchrony

Notes

¹ Initially we attempted to use faster response time for confederates in the Immediate condition; however, 15 seconds was the fastest that confederates could reliably cut and paste their pre-formatted responses into the IM chat window.