Social Cues in the Digital Age: Mimicry, Likability, and the Human Need for Connection
Text messages with emoji reactions. AI chatbots as virtual assistants. Lives lived through screens and notifications. Communication today happens digitally now more than ever. But can typed words and programmed bots ever truly replace real human interaction?
In this episode, developmental psychologist Nicole Guajardo and researcher Brooke Nixon explore concepts like the “chameleon effect” and how subtle social cues translate online. We discuss how mimicry shapes perceptions of chatbots, increases likability in texting, and impacts the iPhone versus Android dynamic.
As communication moves swiftly online, what happens to empathy, self-expression, and human connection? Will improving technology only take us so far? Join us as we delve into the social psychology of digital spaces in an increasingly mediated world.