Context Matters: The Effect of Textual Tone on the Evaluation of Mediated Social Touch

Sima Ipakchian Askari, Antal Haans, P. Bos, M.J.G. Eggink, E.M. Lu, F.G.L. Kwong, Wijnand A. IJsselsteijn

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionAcademicpeer-review

16 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Mediated Social Touch (MST) promises interpersonal touch over a distance through haptic or tactile displays. Tests of the efficacy of MST often involve attempts to demonstrate that effects of social touch (e.g., on affective responses or helping behavior) can be replicated with MST. Results, however, have been mixed. One possible explanation is that contextual factors have not sufficiently been taken into account in these experiments. A touch act is accompanied by other verbal and non-verbal expressions, and whom we touch, when, and in what manner is regulated through social and personal norms. Previous research demonstrated, amongst others, effects of gender and the facial expression of the toucher on the recipients’ touch experience. People can use expressions of the toucher’s emotions as a cue to anticipate the meaning of the ensuing social touch. This current study examines whether emotions expressed in text (i.e., textual tone) affects the meaning and experience of MST. As expected we found textual tone to affect both the comfortableness of the touch as well as its perceived meaning. Limitations and implications are discussed.

Keywords
Mediated social touch Textual tone Affective haptic devices Computer mediated communication Haptic feedback
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationHaptics: Science, Technology, Applications
Subtitle of host publication12th International Conference, EuroHaptics 2020, Leiden, The Netherlands, September 6–9, 2020, Proceedings
EditorsIlana Nisky, Jess Hartcher-O’Brien, Michaël Wiertlewski, Jeroen Smeets
Place of PublicationCham
PublisherSpringer
Pages131-139
Number of pages9
ISBN (Electronic)978-3-030-58147-3
ISBN (Print)978-3-030-58146-6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 5 Sept 2020
Event12th International Conference on Human Haptic Sensing and Touch Enabled Computer Applications, EuroHaptics 2020 - Leiden, Netherlands
Duration: 6 Sept 20209 Sept 2020
Conference number: 12

Publication series

NameLecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)
Volume12272 LNCS
ISSN (Print)0302-9743
ISSN (Electronic)1611-3349

Conference

Conference12th International Conference on Human Haptic Sensing and Touch Enabled Computer Applications, EuroHaptics 2020
Abbreviated titleEuroHaptics 2020
Country/TerritoryNetherlands
CityLeiden
Period6/09/209/09/20

Keywords

  • Affective haptic devices
  • Computer mediated communication
  • Haptic feedback
  • Mediated social touch
  • Textual tone

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