(WIP) Social interaction dynamics in a simulated virtual consultation about psychotherapy

Abstract

Background A central element of psychotherapy is the dyadic social interaction between therapist and patient. The intermittent coupling of nonverbal behavioral patterns of both interaction partners is referred to as nonverbal or motion synchrony. Motion synchrony significantly correlates with relevant psychotherapeutic process and outcome measures, such as therapeutic relationship and the probability of patient-side discontinuation. At the same time, the education of patients is crucial for an informed decision about psychotherapeutic treatment. In a simulated virtual educational consultation about psychotherapy, the impact of nonverbal social interaction on therapy-related motivation and expectations will be examined.

Methods Educational consultation sessions will be conducted with N = 150 participants from the German population who are interested in psychotherapy. Consultations are performed via video call by either a psychologist or an avatar, i.e. a virtual embodied representation of a person. Video data will be analyzed using Motion Energy Analysis to assess motion synchrony. T-tests and a RM-MANOVA with a within-subject factor “time” (pre- vs. post-measurement) and a between-subject factor “group” (psychologist vs. avatar condition) will be conducted.

Findings It is hypothesized that subjects in the psychologist condition compared to those in the avatar condition: 1) experience higher values for therapeutic relationship (both self-rated and objectively by motion synchrony) and 2) report a greater increase in therapy-related motivation and expectation from pre- to post-measurement.

Discussion The results of the Motion Energy Analysis of the virtual dyadic interaction will provide important insights into the social mechanisms for modulating motivation and expectation and options for fostering the therapeutic relationship.