A mere holding effect: Haptic influences on impression formation through mobile dating apps

Jaime Banks; David K. Westerman; Liesel L. Sharabi

doi:10.1016/j.chb.2017.07.035

A mere holding effect: Haptic influences on impression formation through mobile dating apps

Jaime Banks, David K. Westerman, Liesel L. Sharabi

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Tandem advances in mobile technologies and social networks have given rise to app-initiated romantic relationships. Little is understood, however, about the role of the device in this initiation. This experimental study explored the impact of “mere holding” of mobile devices on impressions formed when consuming dating app content. Mere holding (compared to no-touch viewing) was associated with reduced attraction, ascribed personhood, and psychological ownership. Findings suggest that holding may be experienced as a false realization of potential relationships through physical engagement of devices; theoretically, this realization may be understood as an inversion of interpersonal haptic nonverbals, as holding is less about interpersonal intimacy and more about heuristic engagement with the other as an object.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	303-311
Number of pages	9
Journal	Computers in Human Behavior
Volume	76
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2017.07.035
State	Published - Nov 2017
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Attraction
Haptics
Mobile phones
Online dating
Personhood
Romantic relationships

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
Human-Computer Interaction
Psychology(all)

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10.1016/j.chb.2017.07.035

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title = "A mere holding effect: Haptic influences on impression formation through mobile dating apps",

abstract = "Tandem advances in mobile technologies and social networks have given rise to app-initiated romantic relationships. Little is understood, however, about the role of the device in this initiation. This experimental study explored the impact of “mere holding” of mobile devices on impressions formed when consuming dating app content. Mere holding (compared to no-touch viewing) was associated with reduced attraction, ascribed personhood, and psychological ownership. Findings suggest that holding may be experienced as a false realization of potential relationships through physical engagement of devices; theoretically, this realization may be understood as an inversion of interpersonal haptic nonverbals, as holding is less about interpersonal intimacy and more about heuristic engagement with the other as an object.",

keywords = "Attraction, Haptics, Mobile phones, Online dating, Personhood, Romantic relationships",

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note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2017 Elsevier Ltd",

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doi = "10.1016/j.chb.2017.07.035",

language = "English (US)",

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AU - Banks, Jaime

AU - Westerman, David K.

AU - Sharabi, Liesel L.

PY - 2017/11

Y1 - 2017/11

N2 - Tandem advances in mobile technologies and social networks have given rise to app-initiated romantic relationships. Little is understood, however, about the role of the device in this initiation. This experimental study explored the impact of “mere holding” of mobile devices on impressions formed when consuming dating app content. Mere holding (compared to no-touch viewing) was associated with reduced attraction, ascribed personhood, and psychological ownership. Findings suggest that holding may be experienced as a false realization of potential relationships through physical engagement of devices; theoretically, this realization may be understood as an inversion of interpersonal haptic nonverbals, as holding is less about interpersonal intimacy and more about heuristic engagement with the other as an object.

AB - Tandem advances in mobile technologies and social networks have given rise to app-initiated romantic relationships. Little is understood, however, about the role of the device in this initiation. This experimental study explored the impact of “mere holding” of mobile devices on impressions formed when consuming dating app content. Mere holding (compared to no-touch viewing) was associated with reduced attraction, ascribed personhood, and psychological ownership. Findings suggest that holding may be experienced as a false realization of potential relationships through physical engagement of devices; theoretically, this realization may be understood as an inversion of interpersonal haptic nonverbals, as holding is less about interpersonal intimacy and more about heuristic engagement with the other as an object.

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KW - Haptics

KW - Mobile phones

KW - Online dating

KW - Personhood

KW - Romantic relationships

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A mere holding effect: Haptic influences on impression formation through mobile dating apps

Abstract

Keywords

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