Emotional Contagion (Studies in Emotion and Social Interaction) (Paperback)

~ (Author), (Author), Richard L. Rapson (Author) "Emotional contagion is best conceptualized as a multiply determined family of social, psychophysiological, and behavioral phenomena..." (more)
Key Phrases: vocal feedback hypothesis, emotional contagion scale, conversant awareness, Elaine Hatfield, John Cacioppo, University of Hawaii (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...the potential of Emotional Contagion to exert a positive and long-lasting influence on research and theory in emotional interaction is immense...an important and useful book." Joseph N. Cappella, Contemporary Psychology

"...this book clearly explores its topic and presents a compelling case for its thesis, all in readable prose that is laced with interesting examples." Cognition and Emotion

Product Description

When people are in a certain mood, whether elated or depressed, that mood is often communicated to others. When we are talking to someone who is depressed it may make us feel depressed, whereas if we talk to someone who is feeling self-confident and buoyant we are likely to feel good about ourselves. This phenomenon, known as emotional contagion, is identified here, and compelling evidence for its effects is offered from a variety of disciplines--social and developmental psychology, history, cross-cultural psychology, experimental psychology, and psychopathology. The authors propose a simple mechanism to account for the process of contagion. They argue that people, in their everyday encounters, tend automatically and continuously to synchronize with the facial expressions, voices, postures, movements, and instrumental emotional behaviors of others. Emotional experiences are affected, moment-to-moment, by the feedback from such mimicry. In a series of orderly chapters, the authors provide observational and laboratory evidence to support their propositions. They then offer practical suggestions for clinical psychologists, physicians, husbands and wives, parents, and professionals who wish to become better at shaping the emotional tone of social encounters.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 252 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (September 24, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521449480
• ISBN-13: 978-0521449489
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #178,944 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant Explanation of How Ideas and Emotions Spread, August 1, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Emotional Contagion (Studies in Emotion and Social Interaction) (Hardcover)

While reading Malcolm Bradwell's best-selling "The Tipping Point," Bradwell referred to "Emotional Contagion" as "brilliant." So I went to the source and found it just that. It offers rigorous explanations for how ideas and emotions spread, relying on fascinating experimental data from psychology and molecular biology. And the book is never dry or boring; it includes interesting historical and cultural examples as well. I think it's an important and thoroughly accessible work.