The Effects of Social Context on Physiological Covariation

Physiological covariation – shared patterns of autonomic physiology between people – has been documented within all social relationships and predicts a variety of interpersonal outcomes. At a basic level, however, there remains uncertainty about how much “social experience” is needed for physiological covariation to occur. The present research addressed this issue by manipulating various facets common to social experiences. Study 1 manipulated social versus nonsocial engagement during cooperative and competitive tasks and examined whether physiological covariation predicts measures of affiliation. Across social contexts, partners exhibited physiological covariation in the sympathetic (SNS) and the parasympathetic (PNS) branches of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). However, whether partners exhibited shared increases versus decreases in autonomic activity differed by social context. Moreover, SNS covariation predicted measures of affiliation and appeared to be predominantly influenced by social processes. Conversely, PNS covariation did not predict measures of affiliation and occurred due to the procedural influences of the task. Studies 2 and 3 addressed, for the first time, what happens when the minimum requirement of two people is exceeded. Specifically, in a quasi-experimental field study (Study 2) and in an experimental paradigm (Study 3), I examined whether group size predicts physiological covariation during a group-based meditation comprised of a guided meditation followed by a silent meditation. I also explored the relationship between physiological covariation and familiarity. Across studies, group size predicted physiological covariation in SNS and PNS activity over time. How group size exerted its influence, however, depended on the branch of the ANS and the period of the meditation in which physiological covariation was observed. Among experienced meditators, large groups exhibited SNS covariation during the guided meditation, whereas small groups displayed PNS covariation. Among inexperienced meditators, both large and small groups displayed physiological covariation across the ANS. However, large groups exhibited shared decreases in PNS activity whereas small groups displayed shared increases. During silent meditation, the patterns of physiological covariation exhibited by large and small groups were also inconsistent across studies. Furthermore, familiarity predicted physiological covariation, but only in Study 3. The implications for physiological covariation research, the development of social relationships, and group dynamics are discussed.Ph.D