Academic AbstractInterpersonal synchrony, the alignment of behavior and/or physiology during interactions, is a pervasive phenomenon observed in diverse social contexts. Here we synthesize across contexts and behaviors to classify the different forms and functions of synchrony. We provide a concise framework for classifying the manifold forms of synchrony along six dimensions: periodicity, discreteness, spatial similarity, directionality, leader–follower dynamics, and observability. We also distill the various proposed functions of interpersonal synchrony into four interconnected functions: reducing complexity and improving understanding, accomplishing joint tasks, strengthening social connection, and influencing partners’ behavior. These functions derive from first principles, emerge from each other, and are accomplished by some forms of synchrony more than others. Effective synchrony flexibly adapts to social goals and more synchrony is not always better. Our synthesis offers a shared framework and language for the field, allowing for better cross-context and cross-behavior comparisons, generating new hypotheses, and highlighting future research directions.

中文翻译：

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人们如何以及为何同步：综合视角


学术摘要人际同步，即互动过程中行为和/或生理的协调，是在不同社会背景下观察到的普遍现象。在这里，我们综合不同的情境和行为，对同步的不同形式和功能进行分类。我们提供了一个简洁的框架，用于沿六个维度对同步的多种形式进行分类：周期性、离散性、空间相似性、方向性、领导者-追随者动态性和可观察性。我们还将人际同步的各种拟议功能提炼为四个相互关联的功能：降低复杂性和增进理解、完成联合任务、加强社会联系和影响合作伙伴的行为。这些功能源自第一原理，相互涌现，并且通过某种形式的同步性比其他形式更多地实现。有效的同步可以灵活地适应社会目标，并且更多的同步并不总是更好。我们的综合为该领域提供了一个共享的框架和语言，可以更好地进行跨上下文和跨行为比较，产生新的假设，并强调未来的研究方向。