Vocal display rules in everyday life: when is it appropriate to laugh, sigh or scream?

Abstract

The appropriateness of common nonverbal vocalizations is guided by social norms, known as display rules. This preregistered, 7-day experience-sampling study examined how perceived appropriateness varies across situations. A total of 142 adults completed three surveys per day (2670 surveys total; 3821 vocalizations), rating appropriateness alongside situational cues and psychological situation characteristics. Laughter and sighs were most often judged appropriate, whereas screams and retches were least. Appropriateness was higher at home and in social places (e.g. parties) than in work/school or public settings (e.g. library), and higher with close ties than with weak ties or strangers. Formality and power were associated with lower appropriateness, whereas sociality and positivity were associated with higher appropriateness. Effects were vocalization-specific: for example, laughter was considered more appropriate in positive, social and brisk contexts, but less appropriate in formal and high-power contexts. By charting when and where vocalizations are judged acceptable, these findings outline situational principles of vocal display rules in everyday life. This article is part of the theme issue 'Mechanisms, development, phylogeny and functions of emotional expressions'.