Nonverbal Synchrony and Rapport: Analysis by the Cross-Lag Panel Technique

Abstract

A longitudinal design was used to explore the relation between a measure of nonverbal synchrony and self-report indications of rapport in a sample of college classrooms. Results show that posture sharing and rapport are positively related and that this relation is significant across time. Application of the cross-lag panel technique revealed no significant difference, but the direction of the effect suggests the hypothesis that posture sharing may be influential in establishing rapport.