Circling Science

Psychosocial effects of perceived emotional synchrony in collective gatherings

Darío Páez, Bernard Rimé, Nekane Basabe, Anna Włodarczyk and Larraitz N. Zumeta · 2015

Evidence
Survey
Kind
Journal article
peer-reviewed
Method
Four studies of people at folk marches and protest demonstrations: two correlational, one semi-longitudinal and one experimental
Published
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 108(5), 711–729

Mechanisms

Studies a process a circle relies on, such as disclosure or synchrony, wherever it happens.

Taking part in folk marches and protests strengthened participants’ collective identity and sense of belonging and raised their self-esteem and positive feeling, most for those who felt in emotional synchrony with the crowd.

What it doesn’t show

Participants rated everything themselves, and the evidence comes mostly from people who chose to attend. A crowd is far larger than a circle.

Summary based on the abstract.

Directions that build on it

  1. Closeness or conformity

    Builds on 5 works · 2 funding routes

    When a circle falls into step, do its members grow closer, more conforming, or both?

Links

Cite

Páez, D., Rimé, B., Basabe, N., Włodarczyk, A., & Zumeta, L. N. (2015). Psychosocial effects of perceived emotional synchrony in collective gatherings. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 108(5), 711–729. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspi0000014