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Clapping spreads like an ‘infection’

Lengthy applause is seen as the ultimate mark of approval on a performance.
But rather than showing we like what we see, researchers believe the length of time we clap is closely linked to peer pressure.
Once one person starts clapping it spreads like an ‘infection’ spreading from one person to another — with the crowd ‘instinctively’ responding to the noise.
Crowds continue to clap following a performance until someone is brave, tired or bored enough to stop and the volume of applause starts dropping, according to researchers.
Lead researcher Dr Richard Mann, from Uppsala University in Sweden, said: “Once someone has started clapping, it only takes a couple of seconds for the rest of the crowd to follow. Most people aren’t making a conscious decision about whether they should applaud.
“As individuals, we don’t want to be the only ones clapping, nor do we want to clap alone. It is a very instinctive form of peer pressure, it is incredibly powerful.”
But once the first one or two people stop clapping, the rest of the audience shortly follows. However, until this occurs, the group will keep on applauding.
“We found boredom or tiredness is the main trigger for an individual to stop clapping, and once this happens, the rest of the crowd soon follow,” Dr Mann said.
He said the findings suggest the length of applause is not a safe way to gauge the quality of a performance.
“On the plus side, performers can take comfort from this if they get a short round of applause.”
The research, which is published in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface, involved 107 students. They were split into six different groups and asked to listen to two presentations each.

 

 

Source - The Daily Star