Synchrony and Visual Perspective Taking: An investigation of the relationship and the roles of Similarity and Prediction

Hughes, Delyth (2024) Synchrony and Visual Perspective Taking: An investigation of the relationship and the roles of Similarity and Prediction. Doctoral thesis, University of East Anglia.

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Abstract

Synchronous action is motor behaviour aligned to an external cue and is distinct from other forms of coordination due to the specific temporal requirement. Synchrony increases trust, cooperation, facilitates group cohesion and can extend our representation of ‘self’ to include an inanimate object or even another person. How synchrony influences cognition and how it interferes with our sense of ‘self’ and ‘other’ to support social interactions, has not been investigated previously.

A core cognitive mechanism underlying social interactions, Level-1 Visual Perspective Taking (VPT), is the ability to take on the visual perspectives of others and relies on suppression of one’s own perspective. This investigation expands the research into how social information about the perspective taking target can influence VPT, through the inclusion of synchronous action.

Using the ‘dot perspective’ task, this investigation found that prior social information about a target interferes with VPT in differing ways. Synchrony reduced egocentric intrusions, potentially leading to overlap of ‘self’ and ‘other’ perspectives. Synchronised action increased perceived understanding of the mental states of others, which may enable pro-social outcomes. Inclusion of a control condition highlighted that social information from an asynchronous coordination is better than no engagement. Examination of the influence of predictability within coordination emphasised the importance of prediction in a social interaction. Further, that being an asynchronous ‘follower’ provides stronger social information than being a ‘leader’ responsible for maintaining action.

Similarity, a synchrony outcome, was seen to be inhibitory to perspective-taking. Expectations of dissimilarity made participants more considerate of the ‘other’ perspective. Combination of coordination and similarity cues highlighted the complexities of internally balancing social information during interactions.

Synchrony does not just have socio-emotional outcomes. It influences our cognitions making us better able to take on the perspective of others, to achieve the mutual goal of positive social interaction.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Social Sciences > School of Psychology
Depositing User:	Kitty Laine
Date Deposited:	30 May 2025 14:03
Last Modified:	30 May 2025 14:03
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/99352
DOI:

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