Empirical Validation of an Agent-Based Model of Emotion Contagion

In recent years, many agent-based models of human groups have implemented a mechanism of emotion contagion, yet empirical validation is lagging behind. The aim of the present paper is to validate an agent-based model of emotion contagion at the level of group emotion, by comparing simulations against the emotional development of real people in small groups. To study the effect of emotion contagion, the participants interacted via a video call, where they were virtually placed in different social environments while they played a quiz. This allowed the exchange of emotion among all, some or none of the participants. The patterns of emotional development in the empirical results supported our hypotheses based on literature of emotion contagion and social norms. Further, the simulations with the complete model resembled many of these patterns. When emotion contagion was disabled in the model, the resemblance decreased. These results give a first indication that emotion contagion occurs in groups that meet via video calls, and can in-part be predicted by the proposed model of emotion contagion. Yet, further study with a larger and more diverse empirical sample is needed, as well as comparisons across contagion mechanisms, to draw stronger conclusions and ultimately justify societal application.