New research reveals that experiencing strong emotions while watching films together can make people feel more connected – as long as they can see one another. This study, led by Victor Chung of École Normale Supérieure in France and published in Royal Society Open Science, explored the dynamics of social bonding through shared emotional experiences.
The study involved pairs of strangers who watched three five-minute videos: a comedy, a disturbing clip about animal suffering, and neutral footage of a library. Some pairs watched with a curtain between them open, allowing them to see each other, while others had a closed curtain. Researchers recorded participants' heart rate, breathing, and skin conductance to measure emotional response intensity.
Results from the 39 participating pairs showed that emotional films – whether joyful or distressing – elicited stronger reactions than the neutral footage. Pairs with an open curtain reported feeling more intense emotions, suggesting that visual contact enhanced their emotional experience.
Crucially, pairs who could see each other reported feeling more connected after watching the emotional clips, with skin conductance data confirming elevated emotional arousal. However, visual contact did not influence participants' positive or negative perceptions of the films themselves.
“Our findings indicate that experiencing intense emotions with others, even briefly with strangers, can foster social bonds,” said Chung, though he added that the study doesn't conclusively prove that intense emotions directly cause social bonding.
This research aligns with the growing understanding that shared intense experiences, from laughter to distress, can help form social connections, highlighting the power of visual and emotional cues in creating human bonds.
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