Interpersonal synchrony in mentor-mentee dyads: An analysis of nonverbal synchrony and trait-empathy

Journal of Modern Foreign Psychology. 2024. Vol. 13. No. 1. P. 47–57.

Vodneva A., Oreshina G., Kustova T., Tkachenko I., Tcepelevich M., Grigorenko E.

Interpersonal synchrony is a notable aspect of communication; it is evident at various levels, including nonverbal. However, research on interpersonal synchrony in the workplace is limited in general and for mentoring in particular. Empathy is essential for both interpersonal synchrony and mentoring. This study aims to investigate how trait-empathy contributes to nonverbal synchrony in mentor-mentee dyads. Thirty-seven pairs were recruited from the Mentorship Program and engaged in conversations on work and leisure topics. Empathy was assessed using The Empathy Quotient, and nonverbal synchrony was measured via Motion Energy Analysis. A significant contribution of the mentee’s cognitive empathy to the averaged head movement synchrony was found. Cognitive empathy enhances the mentee’s understanding of a mentor’s perspective and expectations through nonverbal cues, particularly facial expressions and head movements. The relationship between cognitive empathy and nonverbal synchrony could be considered in mentoring programs for pairing, as previous research has shown that synchronized dyads are more successful in achieving joint outcomes. However, further research using other methods and a larger sample size is needed.

Keywords: empathy, interpersonal communication, nonverbal communication, mentorship, interpersonal synchrony, nonverbal synchrony, nonverbal behaviors, Motion Energy Analysis, Empathy Quotient