Research on Interpersonal Interactions and Mind Reading as Signaling Game

本研究探讨了社会信号对道歉/自我惩罚、恭维、人际承诺三种人际现象的重要性。研究还表明，愿意作出昂贵的道歉增加与受害者的关系价值的增加。第二条研究路线考察了恭维语的社会功能。第三条研究线考察了伴侣的注意力是否会作为伴侣反应的线索/信号，以及人们是否会根据伴侣的注意力来调整他们对伴侣的亲密感。一系列的实验（两个情景实验和四个行为实验）证实了这一假设。那些受到伴侣关注的人增加了对伴侣的亲密度。这三条研究路线明确表明，社会信号的交换，而不是有形资源，是亲密人际关系的重要基础。这些发现揭示了如何发展和保持社会关系的现代问题。

This project examined the importance of social signals on three interpersonal phenomena (apology/self-punishment, compliment, interpersonal commitment). It was also revealed that willingness to make a costly apology increases as relationship value with the victim increases. The second line of study examined the social function of compliment. The third line of study examined whether a partner’s attention would function as a cue/signal of partner’s responsiveness, and whether people adjust their sense of intimacy toward the partner according to the partner’sattention. A series of experiments (two scenario experiments and four behavioral experiments) confirmed the hypothesis. Those who received attention from partner increasedintimacy toward the partner. These three lines of research unequivocally demonstrated that exchange of social signals, instead of tangible resources, are an important underpinning of intimate interpersonal relationships. These findings shed light on a modern-day problem of how to develop and maintain social bond.