Prosody Predicts Contest Outcome in Non-Verbal Dialogs.

Details

Ressource 1Download: journal.pone.0166953.pdf (1471.82 [Ko])
State: Public
Version: Final published version
Serval ID
serval:BIB_5444D002E576
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Prosody Predicts Contest Outcome in Non-Verbal Dialogs.
Journal
PloS one
Author(s)
Dreiss A.N., Chatelain P.G., Roulin A., Richner H.
ISSN
1932-6203 (Electronic)
ISSN-L
1932-6203
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2016
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
11
Number
12
Pages
e0166953
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article
Publication Status: epublish
Abstract
Non-verbal communication has important implications for inter-individual relationships and negotiation success. However, to what extent humans can spontaneously use rhythm and prosody as a sole communication tool is largely unknown. We analysed human ability to resolve a conflict without verbal dialogs, independently of semantics. We invited pairs of subjects to communicate non-verbally using whistle sounds. Along with the production of more whistles, participants unwittingly used a subtle prosodic feature to compete over a resource (ice-cream scoops). Winners can be identified by their propensity to accentuate the first whistles blown when replying to their partner, compared to the following whistles. Naive listeners correctly identified this prosodic feature as a key determinant of which whistler won the interaction. These results suggest that in the absence of other communication channels, individuals spontaneously use a subtle variation of sound accentuation (prosody), instead of merely producing exuberant sounds, to impose themselves in a conflict of interest. We discuss the biological and cultural bases of this ability and their link with verbal communication. Our results highlight the human ability to use non-verbal communication in a negotiation process.

Keywords
Adult, Auditory Perception/physiology, Competitive Behavior/physiology, Female, Humans, Language, Male, Negotiating/psychology, Nonverbal Communication/physiology, Nonverbal Communication/psychology, Sound
Pubmed
Web of science
Open Access
Yes
Create date
12/12/2016 20:18
Last modification date
20/08/2019 14:09
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