Geanimeerde afbeelding van drie stellen aan een tafel

Connection Experiences

Manipulating self-disclosure during a speed-dating event and predicting love and attraction from the body and the brain.

What was the goal of this research?

The goal was to study a dating event across three continents to understand how high-disclosure conversations impact mutual attraction and relationship quality, which are key factors in mental well-being.

What method was employed?

A speed-dating event was organized where participants engaged in five-minute rounds of conversation. They were instructed to discuss either highly self-disclosing topics (e.g., childhood struggles) or superficial topics (e.g., favourite TV series). Physiological arousal and synchrony were measured using skin conductance.

What findings did we uncover?

High-disclosure topics varied across cultures. Perceived disclosure and active listening were generally rated positively. At certain moments, disclosure and attraction were significantly linked to increased physiological arousal and synchrony.

Who is the Project Team?

Moji Shahvali, Ondrej Mitas, Marcel Bastiaansen, Peter Ward (BYU, USA), ShiNa Li & Yixin Liu (SYSU, China).

What is the timeline of this project?

2022 - present.

Who is our main collaborating partner?

Breda University of Applied Sciences, NL (Experience Lab), Brigham Young University, US (Department of Experience Design & Management), Sun Yat-Sen University, CN (Tourism Management School).