Facially Expressive People are More Popular in Newly Formed Groups: A Social Network Analysis.

IF 1.9 3区心理学 Q4 PSYCHOLOGY, SOCIAL

Journal of Nonverbal Behavior Pub Date : 2026-01-01 Epub Date: 2026-04-27 DOI:10.1007/s10919-026-00514-6

Alisa Balabanova, Eithne Kavanagh, Tom Kupfer, Bridget Waller

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Facial expression has been proposed as a key mechanism in forming and maintaining social relationships. Humans have particularly expressive faces, but direct evidence linking individual level expressivity to group-level social bonding is limited. Here we examined whether spontaneous facial expressivity impacts social popularity during initial group formation. Participants (72 groups, N = 256) engaged in unstructured online interactions in small groups with strangers during which facial behaviour was quantified using automated analysis. Social popularity was measured by calculating social network indices based on relative liking. More facially expressive individuals were rated as warmer and more cooperative, and occupied more central positions in the group social network. In contrast, facial attractiveness did not predict social standing. These findings support the hypothesis that facial expressivity functions to promote cooperative relationships during group formation.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10919-026-00514-6.

查看原文本刊更多论文

面部表情丰富的人在新成立的群体中更受欢迎：一项社会网络分析。

面部表情被认为是形成和维持社会关系的关键机制。人类的面部表情特别丰富，但将个人层面的表情与群体层面的社会联系联系起来的直接证据是有限的。在这里，我们研究了自发的面部表情是否会在最初的群体形成过程中影响社会受欢迎程度。参与者（72组，N = 256）以小组形式与陌生人进行非结构化的在线互动，在此过程中，面部行为使用自动分析进行量化。社会受欢迎程度是通过计算基于相对喜欢度的社会网络指数来衡量的。面部表情更丰富的人被认为更热情、更合作，在群体社会网络中占据更中心的位置。相比之下，面部吸引力并不能预测社会地位。这些发现支持了面部表情在群体形成过程中促进合作关系的假设。补充信息：在线版本包含补充资料，下载地址为10.1007/s10919-026-00514-6。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of Nonverbal Behavior PSYCHOLOGY, SOCIAL-

CiteScore

4.80

自引率

9.50%

发文量

期刊介绍： Journal of Nonverbal Behavior presents peer-reviewed original theoretical and empirical research on all major areas of nonverbal behavior. Specific topics include paralanguage, proxemics, facial expressions, eye contact, face-to-face interaction, and nonverbal emotional expression, as well as other subjects which contribute to the scientific understanding of nonverbal processes and behavior.