Sexual attraction modulates interpersonal distance and approach-avoidance movements towards virtual agents in males

Abstract

How does sexual attraction alter social interaction behavior? We examined the influence of sexual orientation on locomotor approach-avoidance behavior and interpersonal distance. We immersed androphilic and gynophilic male subjects into a virtual environment and presented various male and female virtual persons. In the first experiment, subjects took a step forward (approach) or backward (avoidance) in response to the sex of the virtual person. We measured reaction time, peak velocity, and step size, and obtained ratings of sexual attractiveness in every trial. In the second experiment, subjects had to approach the virtual person as if they were to engage in a social interaction. Here, we analyzed interpersonal distance and peak velocity of the approaches. Our results suggest that sexual attraction facilitates the approach response and reduces the preferred interpersonal distance. We discuss our findings in terms of proxemics, current findings in sex research, and the applicability of our novel task in other fields of psychological research.

Interpersonal Distance in the SARS-CoV-2 Crisis

“…For example, increased IPD can be caused by arousal ( Mathews et al, 1974 ), social threat ( Vagnoni et al, 2018 ), stigma ( Earnshaw & Quinn, 2013 ; Kleck et al, 1968 ; Neumann et al, 2004 ), and most importantly fear of a contagious disease ( Cohn et al, 1992 ). Conversely, approach forces can result from a need for intimacy ( Argyle & Dean, 1965 ) or interpersonal attraction ( Welsch, von Castell, Rettenberger, et al, 2020 ). We conclude that the preferred IPD of about 1 m in dyadic interactions constitutes an equilibrium point of approach-avoidance forces that is stable and associated with a strong individual preference.…”

“…This is especially demanding because IPD regulation often occurs in a fast and automatic manner ( Hall, 1966 ; Leibman, 1970 ; Welsch, von Castell, Hecht, 2020 ). For example, IPD preferences can be predicted within 600–800 ms of social encounters, from approach-avoidance reaction times ( Welsch, von Castell, Hecht, 2020 , Welsch, von Castell, Rettenberger, et al, 2020 ). Therefore, even if people are motivated to adhere to distance requirements, lapses can occur due to the automatic processing and regulation of preferred IPDs.…”

A Bayesian approach to reveal the key role of mask wearing in modulating interpersonal distance during the COVID-19 outbreak

“…Crucially, this distance seems to hold across different countries (Sorokowska et al, 2017), suggesting that the imposed governmental measures sought to change a globally established, everyday behavior.While the reasons behind enforcement of such distancing rules are clear, it remains to be clarified which dispositional and situational factors may impact adherence to interpersonal distancing measures.Research in proxemics, the study of interpersonal spatial behavior (VandenBos, 2007), has defined interpersonal distance (IPD) as the separation zone that individuals keep between themselves and others (Hayduk, 1978). IPD is shaped by situational factors such as social threat (Vagnoni, Lewis, Tajadura-Jiménez, & Cardini, 2018) and interpersonal attraction (Welsch et al, 2020), as well as individual characteristics such as morality (Iachini, Pagliaro,…”

“…Research in proxemics, the study of interpersonal spatial behavior (VandenBos, 2007), has defined interpersonal distance (IPD) as the separation zone that individuals keep between themselves and others (Hayduk, 1978). IPD is shaped by situational factors such as social threat (Vagnoni, Lewis, Tajadura-Jiménez, & Cardini, 2018) and interpersonal attraction (Welsch et al, 2020), as well as individual characteristics such as morality (Iachini, Pagliaro,…”

Digitalization and Virtualization of the Lifeworld: Assessments and Positions

“…Понятие «виртуальный человек» в современных англоязычных научных исследованиях используется в смысле виртуальной модели человека в виртуальной реальности, специально созданного в виртуальной среде объекта, по отношению к которому изучается социальное взаимодействие, например, влияние сексуального влечения [18]; или как виртуальная модель человека для проведения эксперимента в виртуальной среде [17]. Можно сделать вывод, что использование понятия виртуального человека в данном контексте имеет функциональное и прикладное значение, необходимое для конкретных психологических исследований с применением метода компьютерного моделирования; понятие «виртуальный человек» не нагружено оценочным контекстом, не получает позитивных или негативных оценок.…”