PI
Julian Zubek
Movement coordination is a constitutive element of all face-to-face interactions, setting their rhythm and tone. Previous studies, often limited to constrained laboratory tasks, have linked movement synchrony to the formation of social bonds. However, the generalisability of these findings to more naturalistic interactions remains uncertain. I propose a conceptual framework for understanding interpersonal interactions inspired by the participatory sense-making theory. It is centred around a dialectical tension between interpersonal connection and individual autonomy. My main hypothesis is that successful interactions involve characteristic transitions between coupled and decoupled interaction episodes. This challenges the prevalent assumption that higher synchrony invariably leads to more favourable interaction outcomes. Studying these transitions offers an avenue to develop new measures of interaction quality applicable across different contexts (conversation, dance, joint-action, face-to-face meeting, videoconference, etc.). To achieve this, I introduce an innovative methodology that: a) takes interaction as the central focus, b) adopts a mixed qualitative-quantitative approach, and c) engages human experts possessing embodied knowledge. I plan multiple empirical studies using markerless motion capture, wearable sensors, video-stimulated interviews, interactions over video-link, and interactive AI agents. The unifying idea is to identify defining moments of the interaction when interacting individuals experience an increased “togetherness”, and then zoom-in into these moments using quantitative movement coordination measures and qualitative interviewing techniques. The novel research angle will offer insights into the fundamental, embodied aspects of interpersonal connections. I propose this research in the context of digital media increasingly mediating human interaction, and influencing natural interpersonal coordination patterns. The project’s results will pave the way for designing digital systems that respect the innate dynamics of human interactions, fostering a more seamless integration with society.
Funding: National Science Centre, Poland, UMO-2024/53/B/HS1/01428
