Descripción del proyecto
De «criaturas sociales» a «seres digitales»
Como humanos, estamos programados para interactuar con los demás, lo que garantiza nuestra supervivencia como «criaturas sociales». La pandemia de COVID-19 ha cambiado radicalmente nuestra forma de relacionarnos. Las conversaciones en persona se han fusionado con las interacciones virtuales. Cada vez más personas trabajan y estudian a distancia, y acceden a la atención sanitaria por internet. En este contexto, el equipo del proyecto SODI, financiado por el Consejo Europeo de Investigación, examinará cómo afecta este cambio a nuestras interacciones sociales. En concreto, el equipo comparará las interacciones en persona con las interacciones (en directo) a través de pantallas. Mediante un enfoque biopsicológico multimétodo, los investigadores comprobarán si las interacciones a través de pantallas activan sistemas hormonales socialmente relevantes en la misma medida que el contacto en persona. Además, en este proyecto se busca «enriquecer socialmente» las interacciones en el espacio digital permitiendo el contacto físico, los aromas sociales y que los interlocutores puedan verse entre sí.
Objetivo
Over millions of years, human survival has crucially depended on rapport building, seeking others’ social support, and sharing resources in groups. This social context has created constant evolutionary pressure to develop specific biological systems geared to interacting face-to-face with physically present others. For just a few years, we have been living in a rapidly developing digital world where interactions across society (education, friendship, health care) shift to face-to-screen interaction – strongly accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. How does this core change affect our social interactions? In SODI, I will contrast face-to-face with face-to-screen “live” interactions of many individuals, taking a multi-method, biopsychological approach. According to my theoretical working model, face-to-screen interactions fail to entirely engage specific, socially relevant hormonal systems (oxytocin, μ-opioids, testosterone), which evolved to process context-dependent stimuli from face-to-face contact (mutual eye gaze, physical contact, social odour). Consequently, hormone-mediated beneficial social effects should be attenuated, while adding social stimuli should ameliorate this difference. To test my model’s assumptions, I will tackle three objectives. How do face-to-screen interactions differ from face-to-face ones? Can we “socially enrich” face-to-screen interactions by adding previously lacking social stimuli? Does experimentally modulating hormone levels in the brain affect differences between face-to-face and face-to-screen interactions? In a radically innovative approach, my research combines experimental-psychological interaction paradigms, neurophysiological and subjective measures, and hormone administration to understand the merits and flaws of interacting in a digital reality. Moreover, my project aims to strike new paths for “socially enriching” face-to-screen interactions, thereby unfolding the full potential of the digital (r)evolution.
Ámbito científico
Palabras clave
Programa(s)
- HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme
Régimen de financiación
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC GrantsInstitución de acogida
79098 Freiburg
Alemania