JOURNAL ARTICLE

Researchers from University of Parma Describe Research in Psychology (Behavioral contagion in social games: how others' attitude modulate our actions).

  • Published In: Psychology & Psychiatry Journal, 2026. P. 759 1 of 2

  • Database: Psychology Source 2 of 2

Abstract

This article focuses on a study from the University of Parma investigating how Vitality Forms (VFs)—affective qualities conveyed through actions—affect social interaction during a real game setting. The research examined pairs of participants playing tic-tac-toe, where one player consistently displayed gentle or rude behavior, and measured how these VFs influenced the other player's motor responses and affective perception. Results showed that participants’ actions were modulated by the insider’s VFs without conscious awareness of changes in their own affective state, indicating implicit motor contagion. Additionally, the degree of this contagion correlated positively with participants’ empathy levels, assessed via the Empathy Quotient questionnaire. [Extracted from the article]

Additional Information

  • Source:Psychology & Psychiatry Journal. 2026/03, p759
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Mathematics
  • Publication Date:2026
  • ISSN:1944-2718
  • Accession Number:192391186
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