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The choreography of human attraction: physiological synchrony in a blind date setting

View ORCID ProfileE. Prochazkova, E. E. Sjak-Shie, F. Behrens, D. Lindh, View ORCID ProfileM. E. Kret
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/748707
E. Prochazkova
1Leiden University, Institute of Psychology, Cognitive Psychology Unit, Wassenaarseweg 52, Leiden 2333 AK, The Netherlands
2Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC), Albinusdreef 2, Leiden 2300 RC, The Netherlands
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  • ORCID record for E. Prochazkova
E. E. Sjak-Shie
1Leiden University, Institute of Psychology, Cognitive Psychology Unit, Wassenaarseweg 52, Leiden 2333 AK, The Netherlands
2Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC), Albinusdreef 2, Leiden 2300 RC, The Netherlands
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F. Behrens
1Leiden University, Institute of Psychology, Cognitive Psychology Unit, Wassenaarseweg 52, Leiden 2333 AK, The Netherlands
2Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC), Albinusdreef 2, Leiden 2300 RC, The Netherlands
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D. Lindh
3School of Psychology, Hills Building, University of Birmingham, B152TT Birmingham, UK
4Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom
5Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 129-B, 1018 WT Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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M. E. Kret
1Leiden University, Institute of Psychology, Cognitive Psychology Unit, Wassenaarseweg 52, Leiden 2333 AK, The Netherlands
2Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC), Albinusdreef 2, Leiden 2300 RC, The Netherlands
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  • For correspondence: m.e.kret@fsw.leidenuniv.nl
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Abstract

Humans are social animals whose mental wellbeing is shaped by the ability to attract and connect with each other. In a dating world, in which success can be determined by brief interactions, apart from physical features, there is a whole choreography of movements, physical reactions and subtle expressions that drive humans’ sexual attraction. To determine what drives attraction, we measured nonverbal dynamics between people during real-life interactions outside the laboratory, where dating is most relevant. Participants wore eye-tracking glasses with embedded cameras, and devices to measure physiological signals including heart rate and skin conductance. Crucially, visible signals that can be controlled, such as facial expressions or gaze, did not predict attraction. Instead, attraction was predicted by synchrony in heart rate and skin conductance between partners, which are unconscious and difficult to regulate. Our findings suggest that shared emotionality is vital for mutual attraction. Moreover, physiological synchrony may provide a medium for translating visible expressions into embodied emotions, which can turn into intentions via somatosensory simulation.

Significance Statement In our modern world where millions of people meet online without interacting face-to-face, the question “what defines attraction” has become very relevant. In this study, we used modern technologies to lay down a foundation for the processes that drive human attraction during real-life interactions. Contrary to common belief, we found that attraction is not predicted by a frequency of expression or eye fixation duration, nor is linearly related to the participant’s autonomic nervous system activity. Importantly, we found that the more a participant synchronized their heart rate and skin conductance with their partner, the more they felt attracted toward that person. This study reveals a fundamental physiological process that plays a role in the formation of romantic relations.

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Posted November 22, 2019.
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The choreography of human attraction: physiological synchrony in a blind date setting
E. Prochazkova, E. E. Sjak-Shie, F. Behrens, D. Lindh, M. E. Kret
bioRxiv 748707; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/748707
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The choreography of human attraction: physiological synchrony in a blind date setting
E. Prochazkova, E. E. Sjak-Shie, F. Behrens, D. Lindh, M. E. Kret
bioRxiv 748707; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/748707

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