Emotionally Contagious
The emotionally contagious refers to how a charismatic speaker can, seemingly, infect the whole crowd with emotion, and how that emotion is quickly transmitted throughout the crowd?
Studies in nonverbal communication show emotions can be transmitted very quickly, and at times, silently from one person to another.
Research finds emotional expression can spread from the more expressive, infecting the less expressive, over time.
Research shows that some people are naturally emotionally expressive, and more prone to influence the moods of other emotionally-contagious people and others are more susceptible to others' emotions. There are scales that measure both emotional expressiveness and susceptibility/sensitivity to others' emotions.
Here are some sample items for emotional expressiveness,
I have often been told that I have expressive eyes. People immediately know when I am angry or upset with them. When I get depressed I tend to bring down those around me. I often laugh out loud.
These items measure susceptibility to emotional contagion,
I tense when overhearing an angry quarrel. I cry at sad movies. Being with a happy person picks me up when I'm feeling down. If someone I'm talking with begins to cry, I get teary-eyed.
People vary greatly in terms of their emotional expressiveness and susceptibility to emotion. It only becomes problematic in extremes.
Moreover, it is important that the highly emotionally expressive temper it with the ability to regulate and control emotional expressions, being able to turn it off. Similarly, regulation is needed to keep the susceptible from becoming overwhelmed by other’s emotions. It's all about balance when it comes to emotional communication.
Psychology Today
see emotional contagion
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